5d725b56-77ce-4713-8d63-c638e926b8cfonline. In this issue: how to help students who struggle with food insecurity, summer reading lists for you and your students, and info on what duties can be required of you.]]>

The Summer 2018 edition of our award-winning magazine is now available online.

The runoffs are here! The runoffs are here! Are you ready? Primary runoff elections are today, and certain state and federal candidates will be selected for the big contest in November. Contrary to popular belief, while the November elections are important, they are not the only race that matters. Because of gerrymandering, many districts across our state favor one political party so heavily that races to fill those seats only attract candidates from a single political party. In those races, the candidate who wins the primary faces no opposition in November, meaning that your chance to choose who fills those seats is now, not later.

Most polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but you should check the times and locations locally to find information on your polling place. Don’t forget to bring an acceptable form of identification with you when you vote, and print out any notes ahead of time, as cell phones must be turned off at the polls.

If you have additional questions about runoff voting or candidates, please contact ATPE Governmental Relations or call 1-800-777-ATPE (2873).

]]>Tue, 22 May 2018 16:29:52 GMTc4fd0639-1c97-4340-9a99-45414bded754

If you have a question about ATPE, state president Carl Garner has the answer! Wondering how to attend this year’s summit? Curious about local unit rebates? Want to know what happened at your association’s latest board meeting?

This is a great opportunity to get to know the association and our state president a little better!

Dial-in Number: (319) 527-2757

Access Code: 577815

Instructions: At the scheduled date and time of the meeting, dial in to the conference line. When prompted, enter the access code followed by the pound sign (#).

]]>Thu, 17 May 2018 15:10:48 GMT9f72ca49-8a7a-4cbb-8449-e8c9625d410b

ATPE’s new leadership academy, Leadership ATPE, gives you the opportunity to help shape your association and gain valuable leadership skills in the process.

Leadership ATPE is a dynamic new one-year program that offers professional development, leadership training, and networking opportunities for professionals who are (relatively) new to the education field.

Those who are selected will focus on the skills that emerging leaders need to best serve their schools and communities, pursue leadership roles within ATPE, and advance their careers. Program topics will include public speaking and presentation skills, strategic planning, nonprofit governance, membership recruitment and engagement, advocacy, and more.

Participants will attend two expense-paid weekend training retreats, network with their colleagues for digital learning opportunities throughout the year, and be recognized during the ATPE Summit.

Only one member from each region will be selected to join the Leadership ATPE class each year. Applications will be accepted until June 8. Apply today atpe.org/leadership-atpe!

]]>Wed, 16 May 2018 17:48:57 GMT268f6b24-4365-4004-b9bb-ab0964db2335

My nine-year-old grandson, who is very bright, was literally sick to his stomach this morning because he had to take the STAAR test today. He makes straight As, but the school makes such a big deal about the test that it makes him physically sick.

This test is ruining our kids, as well as the teachers who aren’t even allowed to teach anymore. How would you like your entire year at work to be judged on one or two days’ performance? The reason this test is in place is that most of our elected politicians haven’t set foot in a classroom since they graduated from high school. Yet, somehow, these same politicians are now “experts” on our children and the public education system. Sure, there are some teachers out there who don’t need to be teaching—just like in any profession. But the overwhelming majority are dedicated professionals who work for peanuts because they love children. They are often unfairly judged by what a child makes on a stupid (I’m sorry, but that’s the truth) little test on one day of the entire school year.

Certainly, a child’s progress should be measured. What about things like citizenship, the desire to learn, getting along with others, making progress each day, and little victories that add up? Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just let teachers teach the children at their own pace? Let them be creative and use their imagination? My bet is you would see better results. You also wouldn’t have administrators breathing down teachers’ necks all day long, making them practice the STAAR tests day in and day out.

Teachers used to go into the profession for a lifetime. The average teacher now stays for less than five years before moving on. That’s a sad commentary on a profession that is probably the noblest in our society. We all should be worried when the 60-year-old teachers start to retire. Texas needs to work hard to fill the pipeline with people who view this profession as a true calling. It takes a lot more than almost anyone—especially politicians—knows to be a teacher.

Teachers, I applaud you and thank you for giving it your all under some very trying circumstances.

As for my grandson, I know he will do GREAT. He’s smart, adaptable, and has a whole LOT of winning attitude. No way will he let this “stupid little test” beat him. COUNT ON IT!!

Gary Godsey is the executive director of ATPE.

Like what you read? Make sure you never miss a story by following us on Facebook and Twitter. Not an ATPE member yet? Join today at atpe.org.

]]>Tue, 15 May 2018 15:40:41 GMTe251f379-d36a-42b8-9cd3-df55a786632e

Coming this month, ATPE is launching Texas Education Headlines, a weekly email newsletter dedicated to bringing subscribers the latest education news from across Texas, the United States, and the world.

The email newsletter—which will be sent to your inboxes most Thursday mornings—will bring you the top news from that week in the world of education.

Texas Education Headlines is designed to be your one-stop shop to learn what’s happening in education that week. It will include stories related to breaking education news, education policy, new trends in public education, local news, and everything else in between.

The newsletter will also include the latest from ATPE’s weekly blog, which often features tips for teachers, personal stories, breaking news from ATPE, and more.

The newsletter is not limited to ATPE members or even educators. Anyone with even a passing interest in education can subscribe.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day from ATPE! To celebrate the great teachers across this state, we asked ATPE staff members to share memories of their favorite teachers.

My mother was (and continues to be) my favorite teacher. Jolly Ann Maddox (Schlitzkus) had high expectations for all of us at my small, rural, South Texas school. She believed that every one of the nearly 100 students in my 1A high school could compete with students attending better-funded, better-resourced schools. To that end, she taught us to write and to think critically. She always said, "If you can write, you can do anything." There was backlash when she assigned controversial books like The Catcher in the Rye, but she never backed down. My mother embodied the notion that knowledge is power, and she empowered every student that spent time in her classroom.

—Jean Schlitzkus, video producer

My favorite teacher was Mr. John “Pete” Kunkel, the band director for the Big Green Marching Machine at Longview High School. (Go Lobos!) Mr. Kunkel certainly did a stellar job of teaching us about music, but maybe more important, he taught us about discipline, teamwork, and persistence. (And the importance of good posture!) His influence will stay with me for a lifetime!

—Elaine Acker, marketing and communications director

My favorite teacher was Ms. Nova Barkley. She was my senior English teacher. She taught me the value and importance of being able to communicate in writing. I credit her influence and direction as being among the most important factors in any professional success I have enjoyed in my 40-year professional career.

—Gary Godsey, executive director

Her name was Mrs. Mildred Bowden. She was my fifth-grade teacher. I was the new kid at school in the middle of the year in a small town. Most of the other kids had grown up there, so I was really feeling lonely and left out. Mrs. Bowden took me under her wing and made me feel very welcome. She was a mentor of mine all through school. We remained friends even after I finished school. She made such an impact on my life.

—Liz Monaghan, HR director

Growing up in a small, six-man football school, with around 200 kids K-12 (maybe), means that you have some of the same teachers multiple years. It’s hard to choose one because they were all great and really cared for all of us kids in the community. I’ll highlight a couple.

Mrs. Cynthia Stroman (Highland ISD, Roscoe, TX) was our high school English teacher. Mrs. Stroman was tiny in size but held us to a very high standard and pushed us to perform to our best ability. She never tolerated any slacking or poor behaviors. I’m thankful for her because having Mrs. Stroman in high school made college level English a complete breeze!

Mrs. Mary Bankhead (Highland ISD, Roscoe, TX) was our math teacher for years. Her patience and care helped us to excel. She also taught in a way that we could understand, breaking it down chunk by chunk at our level. You could always ask questions, and she always made the time to help you on an individual level. Her patience with us was unmatched! Now when I go home to see family, I sit across from her in Sunday school.

—Kelly Riney, membership field supervisor

My favorite teacher was U.D. Adams, my high school agricultural science teacher. He was always encouraging and supportive. Mr. Adams was strict and had high expectations, but through his caring nature and sense of humor, he had the ability to draw maximum effort from his students and truly earned our respect.

—Joy England, membership director

My favorite high school teacher was Ms. Anderson. She was my AP English 4 teacher. She gave me a love for writing. My favorite professor was my mentor, Dr. Marla Banks. She introduced me to the world of education. She gave me a love for learning and teaching. She introduced ATPE to us at McMurry back in 1994-95, and that is when I became part of the ATPE family.

My favorite teacher was Durwood Howard—the Temple High School varsity band director. That was a long time ago, but he had very high standards for everything that had the band’s name associated with it. Back in the day, we marched pageantry style with 10 busloads of band and drill team members. It was quite the statement to manage all of us and get us ready to perform for a Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day every year! All that took discipline, guidance, direction, and supervision. He was an outstanding model of all those things for all of us.

My favorite teacher was my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Ana Torres at Reynaldo G. Garza Elementary School in McAllen ISD. She wildly jumped up and down when I read my first sentence to her. I can picture that moment vividly. Her enthusiasm and support helped to encourage me long after I left her classroom.

—Sylvia Martinez-Haley, attorney

My favorite teacher was my history/government teacher at Lon Morris College. Dr. Burton taught by telling stories. That is when I began to understand what history and government was all about. To this day, I still remember so much of what he taught me, even though it was 40 years ago!

Not an ATPE member? Join the state’s top professional educators’ organization today.

]]>Tue, 08 May 2018 16:30:23 GMT6182ac65-2ce8-4225-850b-29f90ac7246a

The search for ATPE’s top executive is now underway. State President Carl Garner has formed a search committee for the task, and ATPE has retained Lehman Associates, an Austin-based national executive search firm with 35+ years of experience, to manage the process.

This is an exciting juncture for ATPE, as we seek our next executive director to succeed Gary Godsey upon his retirement. If you would like to read the position profile for the executive role, please visit http://lehmanassociates.com/opportunities/. There you will also find instructions on how to apply for the position. Please note that all resumes, inquiries, and other requests should go through Lehman Associates. It is important that interested parties DO NOT contact ATPE staff or board members directly about the search.

]]>Fri, 04 May 2018 14:21:12 GMT776acd3d-a7c1-41fc-b95f-fff003d2b1a9

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from our staff members. Today’s post features ATPE’s meetings and conferences director, Andrea Elizondo.

What drew you to working at ATPE?

I came to ATPE through a temporary agency. My first temporary assignment after I moved to Austin was with ATPE. ATPE really grew on me. I truly appreciated the work we do for educators and students in the state of Texas. Education is something I believe in wholeheartedly because it has benefited me in many ways. After about a year of working as a temporary employee off and on, a full-time position became available and I jumped at the opportunity to apply for it.

How long have you been working at ATPE? What was your first job here?

I have been at ATPE for 15 years. My first job was in accounts receivable. I helped to process all the ISD payroll registers, posted them to the member records, and assisted with the collection letter process. After about two and a half years, I was ready for a change. An opening in the Meetings and Conferences Department became available. It sounded like a fun and interesting job. I had no meeting planning experience, but thankfully my boss at the time took a chance on me because I had ATPE knowledge that other candidates did not have. Luckily, it turned out to be a perfect fit. I have really found my niche in the professional world. I never saw myself in the hospitality industry, but I love it!

What is the most important thing you’ve learned while working here?

There are two things: patience and persistence. The world is moving around us faster and faster day by day. But in the association world it takes time to get things done. We don’t do our work in a bubble. We must seek a lot of input from staff and members before we make a final decision. It can take months before an idea or a change is implemented, so you must be patient and stay motivated to get the work done. You also must be persistent. You can’t sit back and wait for things to happen. Just because something may not be the right idea now doesn’t mean it won’t be down the road. So, keep at it. Fight the good fight, if you will.

What is your favorite part of working at ATPE?

The people. The staff at ATPE are incredible. We have the most caring, interesting, and creative people on this team. They make coming in to work every day fun and worthwhile. We are all dedicated to the mission and vision of ATPE. In addition to the staff, the members are wonderful. I primarily work with the state officers and board of directors. I truly enjoy working with them and getting to know them as individuals. It’s fun to work with this group of leaders so closely. They are all so dedicated to ATPE and what we stand for as an association. It makes me proud to serve them day in and day out.

Share something fun about yourself that ATPE members might not know.

People are always shocked at my love of rock music. I’m not just talking ‘80s hair bands—yes, I do love those, too—but I’m talking hard rock/metal. Some of my favorite bands are A Perfect Circle, Tool, and Nine Inch Nails. One of my favorite things to do is go to concerts with my husband. I can’t even count the number we’ve been to, but it’s a lot. My husband and I met at an Alice in Chains concert. Music has always been a part of my life. Rock music is just something I have always been drawn to. It’s a way to let go of my frustrations and to celebrate successes.

As ATPE’s meetings and conference director, Andrea Elizondo organizes all of ATPE’s events, including our annual summit, where members gather to help lead our organization and develop priorities for the upcoming year. Learn more at atpesummit.org.

]]>Thu, 03 May 2018 14:54:29 GMTa1171888-dfc8-46df-bd59-91c0c5538a0c

If you are like most of the teachers I know, you find yourself challenged to assess learning. Furthermore, today’s learners need assessment that goes beyond the evaluation of content knowledge and includes collaboration, creativity, problem solving, and the development of higher order thinking skills so students will be prepared for higher education and the world of work. Termed “authentic assessment,” this type of evaluation demands the development of learning environments that force students to plan, question, evaluate, collaborate, design, and develop projects/products that encourage them to apply prior learning and higher order thinking skills. Fortunately, thanks to technology, there are strategies for assessing learning that are fun, engaging, and challenging—strategies that will interest your students and are in line with today’s authentic assessment approach.

A little technology makeover may be all your classroom needs, and with the use of some free or inexpensive tech apps, you can spice up the learning in your classroom. While some of these apps require students to use an iPad, tablet, or laptop, others require only a cell phone. Expensive hardware clickers are NOT required. From remembering and understanding to applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating, here are a few tech renovations you might want to consider.

Remembering and Understanding

Warm-up and exit tickets allow teachers to quickly and easily measure prior learning as well assess what students have learned during a lesson. Although Post-it notes have long been used for this style of evaluation, technology offers some alternatives that “save trees” as well as allow you to save the activity for future use. Teachers are using Twitter (post a 280-character summary of what you know/learned); Google Forms; Ping Pong; Padlet, and Plickers as warm-up and exit tickets.

Polls are a quick way to assess student understanding as well as measure the success of your lesson. They are effective and fast-paced, requiring only five minutes or less of class time, and are sure to keep your students interested and engaged. Typically, they are anonymously graded and give students immediate feedback. Some can even be integrated seamlessly with PowerPoint, Keynote, and Google Sides. Others can be embedded into a website, so if you’re using an LMS (learning management system) for your class, you can embed them there. Suggested apps for polling are:

Quick checks are one- or two-question quizzes that are used during class to measure student learning and understanding. Quick checks are a great way for a teacher to determine that the students have a clear and useful understanding of what has been taught. I recommend

Brainstorming and collaborative brainstorming using online mind-mapping software evaluates the effectiveness of your teaching and what individual students or the class as a whole has learned. This technique takes longer, but it is well worth the effort and time. Collaborative brainstorming as groups is not only an evaluation tool, but also encourages team work, discussion, and consensus. The end result is a product that can be a great study tool for students. Some suggested apps for brainstorming are:

Games, such as TV game shows like Jeopardy, board games like Battleship, and car or horse races, are tried-and-true strategies that can be effectively used to check for remembering and understanding. In my early days of teaching, this was only possible with pocket charts or folder games. Today, SMART Technologies and PowerPoint/app-developing teachers have created games that are fun, exciting, lively, challenging, and effective. Games like Mind-N-Mettle use high quality sound and graphics and can be played in a variety of settings and with the use of multiple languages. For access to more PowerPoint games and templates that you can imagine, I recommend visiting Pinterest.

Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating, and Creating

For all other tech assessment tools, I depend on the Technology Padagogy Wheel that was developed by Allan Carrington and identifies educational apps that can be readily used by teachers every day. Carrington says, “The Padagogy Wheel is designed to help educators think—systematically, coherently, and with a view to long-term, big-picture outcomes—about how they use mobile apps in their teaching. The Padagogy Wheel is all about mindsets; it’s a way of thinking about digital-age education that meshes together concerns about mobile app features, learning transformation, motivation, cognitive development, and long-term learning objectives.”

Now, it’s time for your tech remake. So, go ahead, spice it up, and remodel a little. You and your students will enjoy even the smallest changes you make!

A Corpus Christi native and product of CCISD schools, Libbie Payne entered the teaching field in 1974. Currently, Mrs. Payne serves as the instructional technology specialist and CTE senior problems and solutions teacher, website administrator, and instructional technology chairperson at H.T. Branch Academy for Career and Technical Education. She was one of 30 T-TESS team members who developed the current teacher evaluation instrument. Mrs. Payne was also the 2012 Corpus Christi ISD and Region II Teacher of the Year and was an ATPE Educator of the Year finalist in 2014-15.

Like what you read? Make sure you never miss a story by following us on Facebook and Twitter. Not an ATPE member yet? Join today at atpe.org.

]]>Tue, 01 May 2018 15:37:05 GMTcb24d72c-3e3c-4804-b953-c54f40df897d

Welcome to another edition of our volunteer recognition program, Volunteer of the Month. Do you know an ATPE member who goes above and beyond the call of duty in both their commitment to ATPE and public education? Send us their name and they just might be featured!

Meet April’s Volunteer of the Month, Jeri Willis!

What is your job title? Where do you work? How long have you been in this role?

I am a teaching assistant/job coach at Boerne High School. I have been in and out of this role for 18 years and have been a teaching assistant for 27 years.

How long have you been an ATPE member? Why did you choose ATPE?

I have been an ATPE member since I started at Boerne High School 23 years ago because I was working in the classroom with the president of our local unit at the time. He strongly suggested that I join.

What made you want to be an educator?

I didn’t really choose a career in education. I was subbing at a middle school in San Antonio for about two years, and when I took my daughter for orientation some of the ladies who I had worked with at the school told me they were looking for someone to fill a teaching assistant position. I really didn’t want a full-time job at the time, but my kids were going to be getting braces so I decided to go to work for one year—that was 27 years ago!

What is your favorite part of your job?

I really enjoy going out and working with students in the community. I really try to find a fit for each student so that maybe someday they will be able to get a job on their own. We have had a number of our special needs students continue to work in our community after they have aged out of high school.

What’s your favorite Texas vacation?

My favorite Texas vacation is camping with my family at one of Texas’s state parks. Usually these trips are with my mom, my daughter, and my three grandchildren.

Want to learn more about this program or have questions about how you can be an ATPE volunteer? Email our volunteer program coordinator, Anna Belle Burleson, at aburleson@atpe.org.

]]>Thu, 26 Apr 2018 16:34:51 GMT2e34726b-749c-4a2f-9e0e-d062e1d059d4

With only a couple of days left before the PAC’s Peak Challenge comes to an end, you still have a chance to make an impact and help us hit our $25,000 goal!

Public education has been under attack by a group of state leaders and lawmakers over the past few legislative sessions. It’s time to send a strong message that you care about what’s happening to our public education system and your profession, and you can do that with a small, one-time donation to ATPE-PAC.

As we head into another legislative session, it’s imperative that we elect leaders who truly understand the value of our Texas public schools and all that you do for the five million children you teach day in and day out. Today, it seems that every time you turn on the television, browse the net, or open up a newspaper, you hear and read about inadequate education funding and rising healthcare costs of active and retired educators. That’s because state lawmakers and leaders have been content to kick the funding can down the road for too long, and things are finally starting to catch up. We cannot continue to put these important needs off. We must elect leaders who are willing to do something about the challenges we face.

Our work is just beginning this election year. The ATPE-PAC Committee is happy to report that we had a great winning percentage in the March primaries. Many candidates ATPE-PAC supported with a financial contribution won their elections, while a handful of others have a runoff election in May. We have a tremendous opportunity to pick up more pro-public education seats in the Texas legislature this year, but we need your financial help.

If educators want to shake things up in Austin, we must bring about changes at the polls this election year. The best way to make that happen, in addition to voting, is by helping ATPE maintain a strong political action committee that can contribute to officeholders and candidates who truly support your profession! Big change starts with you! Your fellow ATPE members are counting on you. Please help us hit our $25,000 goal in the PAC’s Peak Challenge by making a $5 donation right now!

]]>Tue, 24 Apr 2018 14:59:21 GMTe140f42a-6902-49f7-9eff-77cf2faef10a

“But everyone in the room laughed! They knew I was joking!”

We sometimes get calls from educators who have done something that they wouldn’t normally do, such as putting duct tape on a gabby student’s mouth, taping a fidgety student to their chair, or teasing a student about a wrong answer. And sometimes, in defense, the educator’s explanation is, “Everyone in the class laughed—including the student!”

Some supervisors investigating such a situation may just admonish the educator with a warning that it’s never a good idea to “joke around” with students. But in today’s climate, most supervisors will not take the issue so lightly. This kind of behavior can and usually will have negative effects on the educator’s evaluation and will even likely affect their employment and career.

Since establishing rapport with students is a recognized part of educators’ professional conduct, “we were just kidding around” may be an appropriate defense against parent lawsuits. But there is no similar protection for the educator’s job and career. Districts and TEA can and usually will argue that such actions violate both local district policy and the Educator’s Code of Ethics and can and usually will take serious negative action against the educator. This is true even if the student initially suggests the idea.

Remember—if you hear a little voice in your head questioning whether it’s a good idea, it probably isn’t.

For advice on these and other career-related questions, eligible ATPE members may contact ATPE’s Member Legal Services Department through our online portal or by calling the state office at 1-800-777-2873 (ATPE) between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

]]>Thu, 19 Apr 2018 14:23:41 GMTde75a4fc-70cc-4660-a0fe-44d8402ad076

Did you know ATPE has eight dedicated regional membership specialists who work to support our members and volunteers in their local communities across the state of Texas? They live and work in various locations across the state and are ready to help you meet your region’s membership goals.

Regions 1 and 2

Roger Gutierrez, ATPE’s South Texas representative, was an educator in Weslaco for 18 years before coming to work for ATPE. He has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Texas–Pan American. Roger joined ATPE in 1996 and has served in various volunteer roles at the local, region, and state level. During Roger’s spare time, you will likely find him barbecuing and spending time with his family, enjoying Avengers cartoons with his son, or taking in some Sunday football.

Cynthia Villalovos is ATPE’s representative for the Houston area. Cynthia started her ATPE career in 1995 as one of the founding officers of McMurry University ATPE and her education career in Wylie ISD in Abilene in 1996. She received her master’s degree in school administration from Sul Ross State University in 2003; soon after, she moved to Houston and held a position at Chavez High School. In 2005, Cynthia became the principal at the Health Academy at Lee High School, and in 2006, she became the principal of the Health Academy at Waltrip High School. Throughout that time, Cynthia held various offices within ATPE, including serving as the Houston ATPE president from 2012–2014 and the ATPE Region 4 secretary in 2013. Cynthia is also the proud mom of one daughter, who may very well be a future volunteer leader within ATPE.

Ginger Franks is from East Texas. Before becoming an ATPE regional membership specialist, Ginger was a special education teacher for 34 years in Martinsville and Woden. She was an ATPE member for 32 years and even served as the 2013-14 ATPE state president. Ginger and her husband Carl are proud grandparents of three grandbabies and spend as much time with their families as they can. Carl Franks has been in education for 27 years and Ginger’s two sisters both worked in education for many years. Ginger has truly dedicated herself to public education through the years and continues to do so now with ATPE.

Kaki Spronz became the Dallas area representative early in 2016. Before becoming an ATPE regional membership specialist, Kaki taught high school Spanish, regular and pre-AP, for four years. She was also the Denton local unit university liaison. While teaching, Kaki earned a professional development grant to study advanced grammar and participate in workshops at Academia Buenos Aires. In her spare time, Kaki coaches CrossFit. Kaki completed undergraduate studies at Hardin–Simmons University and earned a master’s in foreign language education from the University of Texas at Austin.

Diane Pokluda, ATPE’s representative for the North Texas/Fort Worth area, was a classroom teacher for 34 years before moving into her current position. During her career in education, Diane served in several ATPE leadership positions from the local to the regional level; she considers her time as ATPE’s Region 11 director to be one of the most rewarding experiences of her career. During her spare time, Diane enjoys traveling with her husband, Steve, who is also a dedicated ATPE member. They are also devoted Texas Rangers fans.

Mary Jane Waits serves Regions 12, 14, and 15. She came to ATPE with 23 years in education, both in the classroom and as an administrator. She holds a master’s in educational administration and a bachelor’s of business administration. Mary Jane has worked in Lampasas and Comanche. Most recently, she served as education principal at Bartlett State Jail. Mary Jane also raised two daughters while teaching, coaching cheerleaders, and taking her students to national Business Professionals of America contests, where she had multiple winners. Mary Jane and enjoys traveling across Texas and meeting new ATPE members.

Regions 13 and 20

Heather Tuley is ATPE’s representative for Central Texas (the Austin and San Antonio area). Heather has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in education leadership with principal’s certification from Texas State University. Heather taught elementary school for 12 years and also served as an ATPE ambassador in Lake Travis ISD. When she’s not working, Heather can be found boating or enjoying other outdoor activities in the Texas hill country. Heather and her husband have one energetic little boy, Ryder, born in February 2015.

Jeff Vega serves ATPE members in West Texas. Before joining ATPE as a membership specialist, Jeff was an educator and a coach in Wyoming and then in the Midland/Odessa school districts. Jeff has also worked in real estate. He very much enjoys travel and is enjoying making his way through Regions 16–19 and meeting all our wonderful educators! Feel free to strike up a conversation in either English or Spanish. . Jeff and his wife reside in Midland and have a daughter attending Midland ISD.

To find your region, enter your ISD name into the search bar beneath the Texas map on ATPE’s home page.

Not a member of ATPE? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest educators’ association.

]]>Tue, 17 Apr 2018 15:26:46 GMTedcded43-760b-4567-94f6-fa70f2f384ca

It’s National School Library Week—do you know what school librarians can and should be doing on every campus? Do you know how they can help you be a more successful teacher and help your students achieve stronger learning?
School libraries are the largest classroom on most school campuses, and certified school librarians are highly qualified, experienced educators. They must have a master’s degree as well as coursework in library science, be certified teachers with at least two years of teaching experience, and pass a state examination on school library and information content areas to obtain a School Librarian certificate.

These valuable educators not only provide individual and classroom instruction to students at all grade levels, they partner with classroom teachers and administrators on curriculum development, professional development, and literacy initiatives. Librarians are critical partners in the integration of technology as a tool to enhance instruction and engage students.

Classroom teachers should take full advantage of this expertise. Librarians love to collaborate with teachers to design projects that further the classroom curriculum while improving student literacy and research skills and a general love of learning. Librarians also work on curriculum committees—sharing the design load and providing insights gained from working with all grade levels in varied academic contexts.

Great librarians offer a variety of programming through the library: makerspaces, author- and genre-focused displays, book and game clubs—all ways to build student confidence in literacy, technology, and social skills. Libraries are also safe spaces. No grades are given while students work in the library, but many skills are learned that contribute to classroom achievement.

Research shows that students with access to a fully staffed and funded school library do better academically and on mandated state tests. Research shows that libraries can be the strongest defense against poor literacy skills. Helping students find books that appeal to them, that challenge them, and that keep them reading for pleasure makes those students stronger readers for class topics as well.

Texas has many amazing school librarians—I’m sure some are in your district. And it appears demand is UP for campus librarians this year as administrators realize what librarians contribute; multiple districts are looking for qualified candidates in the face of a shortage. So maybe some of you teachers are interested in switching tracks? You’ll be working just as hard, but with more variety in your day. Librarians move between teaching classes; managing digital access to databases, ebooks, audiobooks, and more; supporting students to choose just the right book for them right now; selecting books and digital resources for the collection; managing circulation [into every job some (digital) paperwork must fall!]; collaborating with teachers; and finding many other opportunities to be creative.

As educators, Texas school librarians are here to work with our fellow teachers to support our shared students’ academic achievement, help them prepare for future success, bridge digital and socioeconomic divides, and encourage in them a lifelong love of learning. Stop by and say “Hello!” We’re here to help you.

Dorcas Hand is a school library advocate, editor of the Texas Association of School Librarians TASLTalks blog, and co-chair of Students Need Libraries in HISD.

“We’re never too old to learn! The Perot Museum always has the most interesting exhibits. Plus, it’s free with your teacher ID!!” –Betty McCoy, Ferris ATPE

“An amazing place of discovery from prehistoric to modern with amazing hands-on exhibits. The best part of this museum is that for teachers it is FREE, so don’t forget to bring your badges from your school.” –John Fore, Dallas ATPE

“Klyde Warren Park is a local public downtown park with food trucks, daily concerts, yoga, and museums next door. This park has a vast amount of things to do, including walking, biking, and taking part in their events.” –Katy Matthews, Plano ATPE

“Trinity Groves is a stylish restaurant marketplace that features fish, BBQ, Asian fusion, and a few other options. You can see the skyline view, the spanning Trinity River, and access to trails in the river basin below. The vast patio has great spots for pictures!” –Katy Matthews, Plano ATPE

Dallas’s West End is where you’ll find many of the city’s best-known museums. Its rich history makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city. Plus, according to Ferris ATPE’s Betty McCoy, it has “restaurants galore!”

What are your favorite spots in Dallas? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

And don’t forget to register for this year’s summit! Housing and registration close Monday, June 11, so talk to your region or local unit president about attending today!

]]>Tue, 10 Apr 2018 15:01:09 GMTc312daed-fd36-41fa-9242-e81ac5e082b7

ATPE is excited to announce its new recruitment reward program. The new program replaces the STAR Membership Challenge and Each One Reach One. Any member is eligible to participate and earn money while helping grow the association!

Overview and Timeline:

Any active ATPE member who recruits a new professional, first-time professional, associate or administrator member for 18-19 between April 1, 2018 and Oct. 31, 2018 will receive $10 per member recruited. No limit!Please note: a new member is defined as an individual who has never been a member of ATPE.

Incentives will be paid for each recruited member who is an active member in ATPE’s database on Feb. 1, 2019.

All checks will be issued the first week of February 2019.

The top recruiter will receive $1,000 in addition to $10 per member recruited.

No entry form needed—simply tell the educators you recruit to enter your full name in the recruited by blank on their membership application.

Don’t miss your chance to take advantage of this great opportunity! Talk to your colleagues about ATPE today. Haven’t joined yet for 2018-19?

Welcome to another edition of our volunteer recognition program, Volunteer of the Month. Do you know an ATPE member who goes above and beyond the call of duty in both their commitment to ATPE and public education? Send us their name and they just might be featured!

Meet March’s Volunteer of the Month, Louis Mascolo!

What is your job title? Where do you work? How long have you been in this role?

I am a classroom teacher of physics and aeroscience engineering at Kingwood High School currently housed in Summer Creek High School, thanks to Hurricane Harvey. Next year will be my 30th year teaching high school students.

How long have you been an ATPE member? Why did you choose ATPE?

I have been an ATPE member for many years because of the advocacy and protection that ATPE provides. Great mentors, such as Gayle Sampley, have encouraged me to become a member and even be the president of our local Humble ISD chapter.

What made you want to be an educator?

I started teaching country western dancing after college and realized that teaching means changing lives no matter what you are teaching. I then went back for my master’s in education to teach chemistry.

What’s one thing you would change about your job if money were no object?

If money were no object, I think that smaller classroom sizes would make the best impact on teaching and learning. It would help develop positive relationships and more personalized education. It would prevent students from falling through the cracks and feeling invisible. I also think a side benefit would be less teacher burnout.

Share your favorite moment as an educator.

Having a team win State Science UIL two years in a row is one of my favorite moments.

What’s your favorite Texas vacation?

I love to go to Big Bend National Park with family and friends to hike the trails and see God’s glory and majesty in the mountains, desert, and silence.

Want to learn more about this program or have questions about how you can be an ATPE volunteer? Email our volunteer program coordinator, Anna Belle Burleson, at aburleson@atpe.org.

]]>Thu, 29 Mar 2018 15:41:03 GMT9174efef-0df4-43b7-a35d-e4ec2e05149c

With only a month left, the PAC’s Peak Challenge is headed into the final stretch, and we are in dire need of your financial support! We’re running behind our goal to raise $25,000 for your ATPE Political Action Committee (ATPE-PAC) by May 1. So far, we’ve only been able to raise $8,370. A $5 donation today will put us closer to meeting our goal.

As you know, the primary elections have concluded, but the work is not over. We’re happy to report that ATPE-PAC had a great winning percentage in the March primaries. Many of the candidates to whom we gave a financial contribution won their election, while a handful of others have a runoff election in May. Those victories present us with a great opportunity to pick up a couple more seats in the Texas House, but we’re going to need your help.

To continue our winning momentum, we need to financially support those candidates who have a primary runoff race on May 22. Without your financial help, our allies will not be able to compete against a group of six wealthy Texas families who have poured a ton of their personal money into the coffers of candidates who share their vision to send public dollars to private entities with zero accountability. These families also support the idea of getting rid of your defined benefit pension and switching it to a 401(k) plan where your future benefits are not guaranteed.

You’re not going to let that happen, are you? I know you’re not, so please donate today to start making your impact! With so much on the line during the upcoming legislative session, it’s imperative that we have allies in Austin who will stand up against those six families that are bent on pushing their own public education agenda. I can tell you right now that their agenda is not likely to be education friendly!

Don’t let a handful of wealthy individuals tear down everything we have fought for! Let’s lay the groundwork for a productive legislative session by supporting our allies, who will work with us, rather than against our professional interests.

As an educator, social and emotional learning (SEL) has always been important to me. I am uncomfortably shy in a new setting but talkative when I am with my family and friends. Is this because I’m a Gemini or because most people feel the same way when put on the spot in new social situations?

My own reliance on strong social skills led me to fully implement lessons for social and academic success when my district adopted the SEL curriculum Second Step several years ago. I am able to show videos, sing songs, and role-play various social skill lessons. My class learns about self-regulation, empathy, and emotion management.

Here are some of my favorite activities to help my students learn to regulate their emotions:

Dancing. Movement-based activities, including dancing, can be very effective. I have my students dance to a music video, “Stop. Name your feeling. Calm down.” It is catchy, and my students can sing the chorus when we need to settle down.

Hand Brain. One of my favorite lessons includes having each student use their hand to make a “hand-brain.” We talk about how the thumb represents the “feeling” part of the brain and that the fingers are the “thinking” part of the brain. They learn the fingers can flip up, which is like “flipping your lid.” Even my young students understand how the feeling part of the brain takes over because the thumb is left uncovered. I have seen the neuroscience behind this concept covered in teacher workshops and in TED talks. Our students are able to understand the visual images, allowing us to discuss emotion management.

Mindful Moments. My school has also added a “Mindful Moments” to our SEL program. Each Monday, our students take a big “team breath” as a way to take time for ourselves. They learn how to calm themselves down with deep breathing. We breathe in our favorite color and exhale out our least favorite color. Sometimes we concentrate on the length of our breaths, making sure the exhale is longer than the inhale. Other days we concentrate on a happy time and then discuss how the memory can be mood altering.

Look and Listen. We also use our Mindful Moments to help us focus. We have learned that in order to focus, we need to look and listen. Talking about how to concentrate and ignore distractions has helped our students block out small noises so they can finish work in a timely manner. One concentration lesson includes looking out the classroom window and noticing one item at a time. Spending time looking at one specific item that catches one’s eye allows students time to practice looking at that item without being distracted by other things in their view. On one particular day, we spent one minute looking at three different items, one at a time. It was one of the best minutes of the day.

Getting parents involved is important to success. The parent connection piece of Second Step links the parents with premade letters and at-home activities. Parents have enjoyed talking to their children about social skills and are amazed at the emotional growth of their elementary-aged children.

I feel fortunate to have these tools because teaching can be tough some days. It is healthy for me to take a cleansing breath at times. The kids can ask for a Mindful Moment, and so can the teacher!

Ilene Pappert earned her bachelor's degree from Tulane University and her MEd from the University of Houston. She taught in Alief ISD and she is currently on her 23rd year of teaching for Austin ISD at Highland Park Elementary School. Ilene enjoys spending time with her family and friends when she is not teaching. She is proud of her son and daughter who both attend Texas A&M University. Ilene feels fortunate to be a part of the Austin ATPE chapter because ATPE has taught her so much about the connection between the government and her career.

Summer is right around the corner, and after a year of hard work, you could use a vacation! Would winning two roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines help get your summer off to a good start? We thought so. Those tickets could be yours! All you have to do is take two minutes to check your contact information at ATPE.org. If your information is outdated, make those updates now! If the info is all good—wonderful! You’ll still be entered to win just by checking and confirming your information is correct.

*The winner will receive two $250 gift certificates good for travel on Southwest Airlines. All updates must be received on or before midnight, April 15, 2018. Winner will be notified on or before May 1, 2018.

]]>Tue, 20 Mar 2018 18:30:54 GMTfb0536e9-cba8-4719-88b7-7654df314f3e

Summit is ATPE’s annual gathering where volunteer leaders have a little fun while learning from and connecting with other leaders from across Texas. This year, ATPE is taking the show on the road—to Dallas! To attend summit, your local unit or region president must register you as a summit delegate. To learn more about the 2018 ATPE Summit and find out how you can attend, visit atpesummit.org. Housing and registration/delegate certification open on April 4 and must be completed by June 11.

Who can attend?
ALL current members of ATPE are eligible to attend. Contact your local unit president to be certified as a delegate and to register.

When do I book?Housing and registration will be open from April 4 until June 11! Book early to lock in ATPE’s discounted rates on hotels.

How much does it cost?
Event registration is $150 (increases to $160 on June 12). College students, student teachers, and college sponsors receive complimentary access to all events. Learn more at atpesummit.org/fees.

Financial assistance is available to local units that qualify (conditions apply). Visit atpesummit.org for more details.

Why should I attend summit?
Summit is your chance to influence your organization! The annual House of Delegates (HOD), which is held at summit, is where members will elect the 2018-19 ATPE state officers, vote on bylaw amendments and resolutions, and shape ATPE’s legislative priorities for the upcoming year.

This year, we’re also putting a lot of focus on the ins and outs of running a successful local unit. We’ll also have sessions specifically geared toward our college and student teacher members, built toward helping you take the next step in your teaching career. Plus, we’ve got some extra pep in store for a special game-day themed general session.

Will I get a chance to have fun and socialize with my fellow educators?
Absolutely! Dallas is an exciting city with tons of exciting attractions, and we encourage members to enjoy the city and take the opportunity to get to know each other better. And ATPE will be hosting a few social events for members:

Silent Dance Party: It may have been silent, but we still heard you loud and clear: The Silent Dance Party was a hit, so we’re bringing it back for the second year in a row.

Vegas Night: Plus, the ever-popular Vegas Night is coming to Dallas! Roll the dice and see what you can do with the cards you’re dealt. You just might win!

School Packs for Kids: This year we’re giving back to the local community—and we’ll be having some fun while doing it! Attendees will compete as teams to earn school supplies to fill backpacks for Dallas area kids in need. You don’t have to be an athlete to compete in these games, just a desire let loose for a good cause! This event is limited to 100 participants, so be on the lookout for more information.

Questions?
For more information and to see a full agenda, visit atpesummit.org!

]]>Fri, 16 Mar 2018 15:22:05 GMT4910a73c-7c10-451a-8c82-276200fd02d6online. In this issue: tips for new educators, behind the scenes at a career and technical education campus, and a special education teacher shares how standardized testing affects our most vulnerable students.]]>

The Spring 2018 edition of our award-winning magazine is now available online.

Gary G. Godsey, executive director of the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), has announced his retirement effective August 1, 2018.

Godsey is a lifelong nonprofit leader who has served the organization with distinction for the past five years. ATPE is the largest independent educator organization in the country, and under Godsey’s watch, has modernized business practices and has been a dedicated advocate for the educators and public-school students of Texas.

Prior to joining ATPE, Godsey spent 35 years in key local, state, and national roles with the United Way and other organizations and served on numerous boards.

He will continue to lend his expertise to nonprofits in a consulting role, both here in Texas and around the country. ]]>Fri, 09 Mar 2018 16:26:28 GMT089e030f-1335-42de-b54f-fbc4b84de3ff

These are the faces of the hardest-working lobbyists in Austin. I have donated $850 in the past year to ATPE-PAC because I believe deeply in this talented team of lobbyists, who do exemplary work for ATPE at the Texas Capitol. The success of their fight to protect our rights during the 85th legislative session speaks for itself. Our right to authorize payroll deduction of our association dues was saved. Vouchers failed once again because of their valiant work to keep public tax money out of private institutions.

I believe these people represent us better than we could represent ourselves. We teach. They advocate. It is a perfect plan.

While we are in Texas classrooms teaching this state’s 5.4 million schoolchildren, our lobbyists are pounding the granite corridors of the Capitol on our behalf, trying to get behind closed doors to have meaningful conversations about public education, accountability, teacher benefits, and school finance.

Their work continues during the interim. They do a good job, but they need funds in ATPE-PAC to work with in order to engage our legislators. By law, membership dues dollars may not be donated to candidates or officeholders, which means voluntarily donating to ATPE-PAC is our only means of making campaign contributions. By choosing to support ATPE-PAC, you are supporting the growth and development of strong relationships with those who make Texas law.

ATPE is the largest education association in Texas and should have the strongest voice. More than one-third of Texas’s 300,000 educators are members of ATPE. Imagine if each of our 100,000 members made a $10 donation to ATPE- PAC. That’s $1,000,000! And that is precisely what ATPE-PAC needs to fight the powerful and wealthy special interest groups who want to privatize schools, test students into unconsciousness, and reduce teacher rights and benefits.

Join me in supporting ATPE PAC. Donate today. Any amount will help—$5, $10, $25, $100. Go online to atpe.org/pac-donate to donate using your credit or debit card. Or mail a check to ATPE’s headquarters in Austin.

Gayle Sampley is a retired elementary behavior training teacher who has been a member of ATPE for more than 25 years. She most recently served as the chair of the state Bylaws Committee, chair of the Region 4 Scholarship Committee, and legislative chair of Humble ATPE.

ATPE-PAC solicits contributions only from ATPE members, employees, and their families. Participation in ATPE-PAC is voluntary. Members can contribute any amount or nothing at all without affecting their ATPE membership status, rights, or benefits.

]]>Thu, 08 Mar 2018 12:18:43 GMT773dfa49-7921-44c8-96cd-85f9b33b5593

Primary Election Day is today!

Angry about the way educators were treated during the last legislative session? The primaries are your opportunity to make your opinions known!

You may think the general election in November is the most important election you can vote in, but in Texas, that’s not always the case. Because of the way the Texas legislature has carved out districts, a majority of our state’s races will be decided in today’s primaries. You may vote in either party’s primary (but not both!), and we encourage you to vote strategically by participating in the primary of your district’s dominant party. Remember that you can vote for any candidate, regardless of party affiliation, in the November election, but for today, you’ll have to pick either the Republican or Democratic primary.

Visit your assigned polling location to cast your vote. Don't forget to take your photo ID. Most polls are open today until 7 p.m. For additional information, visit VoteTexas.gov. To learn more about the candidates running for office in your area, visit TeachtheVote.org.

You cannot afford to stay home in and let your neighbors decide what will happen to your profession. There are 5.4 million kids counting on you to be their voice at the polls.

]]>Tue, 06 Mar 2018 15:02:17 GMTcdf00859-c48b-4fa1-a0ac-3f8d4f0282a7

The tragic school violence in Parkland, Florida, has moved many people across the country to activism, which has included planning school walkouts. The dates that have been considered nationally are March 14 (when most Texas districts are out on spring break), March 24 (a Saturday), and April 20 (a Friday and the 19th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting).

Students and educators can make individual decisions regarding participation on a non-school day, and the First Amendment right to free speech would likely protect their actions. We want you to know, though, that a professional educator can risk serious consequences if he or she engages in a work stoppage, even if it is for a worthy cause.

The state legislature has banned strikes for public employees, including educators. A public employee who strikes or engages in an organized work stoppage, such as an interruption or cancellation of the school day, “forfeits all civil service rights, reemployment rights, and any other rights, benefits, and privileges the employee enjoys as a result of public employment” (Tex. Govt. Code Section 617.003). While this provision does not specifically refer to TRS retirement benefits, ATPE has long been concerned that participating in an organized work stoppage could put these benefits that educators have “as a result of public employment” at risk.

A teacher who walks out of the classroom and violates any directive from the school administration also faces the risk of negative employment consequences, including termination. Additionally, a teacher could be placing their certification at risk because they would be violating the law.

We recommend that educators check with campus administration about how to handle a student walkout as soon as possible. As an educator, you want to have a plan to keep your kids safe, whether they stay in the classroom or not. And you will want to know the expectations in order to avoid negative employment action. You may be directed to leave with students, monitoring them to ensure safety, or you may be asked to remain in the classroom. In either case, if you are following a directive, you are working and so are not participating in a work stoppage; thus, you should not experience negative action.

We are all one voice in condemning school violence. We do not want this tragedy compounded by well-meaning educators suffering individual consequences because of their convictions.

ATPE members who have legal questions should contact ATPE’s Member Legal Services Department via our online system or at (800) 777-2873.

]]>Mon, 05 Mar 2018 21:35:27 GMT1a089792-1198-4138-ab08-4639f6643845

Momentum has been building among public school employees since the last Texas legislative session ended. The first opportunity to turn that momentum into real change is almost upon us. Election Day is March 6.

To be an informed voter, it’s crucial to know where your candidates stand on public education issues. Lucky for you, TeachTheVote.org has compiled voting records and survey responses from numerous candidates so that you can be sure you know who's going to make public education a top priority.

How does it work?

TeachtheVote.org features profiles of candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor, Texas legislature, and State Board of Education. Use the Candidates page to search for candidates by district number, last name, map, or using your address. Our candidate profiles include incumbents’ voting records, responses to the ATPE candidate survey, photos, links to campaign websites, information on endorsements from other groups, and more.

Don’t forget to read our Teach the Vote blog for the latest education and election news, and follow @TeachtheVote on Twitter, too.

]]>Thu, 01 Mar 2018 15:30:27 GMTf38bc1ec-1bf8-42d5-bc56-3958e8e2a8c2

Let everyone else have their out-of-state ski trips and beach outings for Spring Break. Why leave Texas when there’s an endless list of landmarks, attractions, and parks to visit—each different than the last? We put a list together of “roadside” attractions worth driving to, located all across the state.

With your ATPE discounts, you’ll find traveling even easier. Take advantage of your auto rental discounts. If you take your own car, don’t forget that members get a first-year discount on AAA roadside assistance. Figuring out where you’ll stay is effortless with ATPE’s lodging discounts. And now, ATPE members have even more deals, discounts, and brands to choose from with the new BenefitHub. This new marketplace has a category dedicated solely to travel.

Take those discounts for a spin by checking out these Texas destinations.

Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo
Located off I-40 just outside of Amarillo you’ll find a ranch that features a different kind of steer—the Cadillac Ranch. This now iconic public art installation consists of 10 Cadillacs buried car-hood deep in the Texas soil and covered in layers of graffiti. The ranch was commissioned by Stanley March 3 and created by a group of San Francisco-based artists known as the Ant Farm. The cars weren’t always coated with so much graffiti, but visitors are welcome to leave their mark upon a visit, so long as you don’t leave any litter behind! visitamarillo.com

Buddy Holly Center, Lubbock
One of Lubbock’s most well-known spectacles, the Buddy Holly Center catches your eye immediately with a giant replica of the singer’s famous glasses planted just outside the main entrance of the museum—a great photo op! The center’s Buddy Holly exhibits are showcased in a striking guitar-shaped gallery. But the interactive museum also aims to promote the music of West Texas as a whole and allows displays for other contemporary visual arts and music in the region. Don’t forget to stop by the West Texas Walk of Fame nearby. visitlubbock.org

Eiffel Tower, Paris
“Texas” often means two things: cowboy hats and everything being bigger. This combination is perfect for Paris, Texas, a town that boasts about being “the second-largest Paris in the world” and has a 65-foot-tall Eiffel Tower with a cherry red cowboy hat on top to boot. After you take in the view, visit the adjacent Red River Valley Veterans Memorial, a touching tribute to those who have served or are serving in our nation’s military. The town is full of unique architecture and plenty of antique shops, so you can experience old-world charm without leaving Texas. paristexas.com

Dinosaur Valley State Park & Dinosaur World, Glen Rose
Take a walk on the prehistoric side by exploring Dinosaur Valley State Park. Spanning more than 1,500 acres, the park has more than hiking trails and camp sites—dinosaur tracks can still be seen along the bed of the Paluxy River. The region marks the edge of what was once a Precambrian ocean that covered much of what is now Texas. Fittingly, Dinosaur World (down the road a mile) allows visitors to actually walk among life-sized dinosaur figurines and learn about these ancient creatures. glenrosetexas.net

Stonehenge II and Easter Island Heads, Ingram
You don’t have to travel across the pond to see Stonehenge; just head to the shores of Guadalupe River near Ingram. There you’ll find Stonehenge II, an art installation that is 90 percent as wide and 60 percent as high as the original in England. What started as a fun project for local art supporter Al Shepperd and his neighbor Doug Hill now attracts thousands of visitors a year. And just for the heck of it, Shepperd added two Easter Island statues to keep Stonehenge Jr. company. cityofingram.com

Monahans Sandhills State Park, Monahans
Nature has “dune” it again. Monahans Sandhills State Park’s wonder shifts with every whip of wind, drop of rain, or round of sand sledding. The Monahans dunes are actually leftovers from New Mexico’s Rocky Mountains that were eroded by the Pecos River more than 40,000 years ago. Nowadays, families can rent “sand toboggans” and discs for a joyride down the sandy peaks. Allow yourself time to peruse the museum in the Dunagan Visitor Center to learn how this environmental phenomenon came to be. Plus, there’s a quarter-mile hiking trail showcasing the area’s native plants, along with windows for observing wildlife. cityofmonahans.org

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission
Located within the world-class World Birding Center, the Bentsen-Rio Grand Valley State Park is a premier bird-watching destination. More than 525 species have been documented in the Valley itself, with the park notching 358 species alone. Experience a bird’s-eye view in the two-story observation tower, stroll through the butterfly gardens near the visitor center, and wander the seven miles of trails to encounter more wildlife. Nestle up closer to the fowl thanks to two enclosed bird blinds, a birding wall, and water features that entice birds to come closer. Don’t miss this ecological treasure. missiontexas.us

Ready to begin your travels? Check out ATPE’s discounts to see learn more about how ATPE helps you save on hotels, car rentals, theme parks, zoos, vacation and cruise packages, AAA, and more—now even easier with the new BenefitHub marketplace! See the “Discounts and Rewards Marketplace” section of the ATPE services and discounts page for more information.

]]>Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:35:37 GMTe99597b8-457f-4185-bfbf-b57e6719023d

Welcome back to another installment of our volunteer recognition program, Volunteer of the Month! For this program, we choose one member each month who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in their commitment to ATPE and public education. We look for volunteers who exhibit outstanding leadership and tireless efforts, and we’re relying on YOU for nominees.

Meet February’s Volunteer of the Month, Jay Guerrero!

What is your job title? Where do you work? How long have you been in this role?
I’ve been a technology service technician for 18 years at Cypress-Fairbanks ISD.

How long have you been an ATPE member? Why did you choose ATPE?
I’ve been an ATPE member for about 17 to 18 years after a friend, who is a campus rep, approached me about joining.

What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is seeing the students I have installed software for and having that bond of watching them grow—it is incredible.

What advice would you give to a new educator coming into your position?
My advice is to become a team player and to have someone you can shadow. If any assignments are unclear, ask for clarification instead of proceeding with the wrong direction.

What is the most important thing you wish someone had told you when you started out in your career?
I wish someone would have told me that in order to “get good” at something, you need to love the process. People want the outcome, but in order to be motivated to work toward it, day in and day out, you have to learn to get some enjoyment out of the process.

What has been your favorite moment as an educator?
A quadriplegic student whom I had known since he was in elementary school was in his senior year and taking AutoCAD and graphic design. He started from a simple scanning software to a much higher-functioning version of scanning with his eyes. And to hear the teacher say he’s better than some of the other students—I saw what he was doing, and I had to excuse myself from the room to cry. I was overwhelmed with emotion—so proud of him.

Share something fun about yourself.
I love games. I always try to attend game nights at friends’ homes. Everyone has always said that I don’t know a stranger. I can make a friend in a room full of strangers.

Want to learn more about this program or have questions about how you can be an ATPE volunteer? Email our volunteer program coordinator, Anna Belle Burleson, at aburleson@atpe.org.

It’s time to celebrate the members who make our association so great and are essential to ATPE’s continued success. Applications for our Leader of the Year awards, which encompasses Local Unit of the Year and Campus Rep of the Year, are due March 2, 2018. Local units may apply for or be nominated for the Local Unit of the Year award, which is divided into four categories:

Local units with 1–200 members

Local units with 201–500 members

Local units with 501+ members

University local units

Each winning local unit will receive a $1,000 check. For the Campus Rep of the Year, a local unit or staff member may nominate a campus rep. Each recipient will receive a check for $1,000, and the recipient’s local unit will receive a check for $250 to be used for future local unit activities. The award is presented in three categories:

Applications will be reviewed by their respective committees, and finalists must attend an in-person interview at summit. Winners will be announced at the 2018 ATPE Summit in Dallas.

Visit atpe.org for full details on this year’s awards, and remember to submit those applications by March 2!

]]>Thu, 22 Feb 2018 16:23:42 GMT7d363c6c-4d1c-43d8-b917-1c83d3127412

We have all witnessed the continued attacks on public education during the last few legislative sessions. It was evident during the 2017 regular and special sessions when some legislators and state leaders tried to take away your right as a public school employee to pay for your association dues via payroll deduction—a clear attempt to silence your voice.

At a time when our children and teachers are in need of support, some state leaders continue to attack our schools, while at the same time asking teachers to do more with less. Retired teachers are also feeling the effects of long-term political attitudes that have resulted in the underfunding of our education infrastructure. Many have watched their health insurance premiums go through the roof with no offsetting increase in pension benefits from the legislature.

Get out and vote!

One of the greatest tools in our democratic toolbox is the ability to express our content—or our discontent—with the status quo by going out to vote. That’s what makes our democracy so great! All we have to do is show up on Election Day and vote for the candidates who will make public education more than just a priority on the campaign trail. We need candidates who are committed to fighting for public education during the legislative session, when it really counts.

The Primary Election is Tuesday, March 6. That means we are just one month away from having the opportunity to change the conversation around public education in Texas. Plenty of good candidates are running on a pro-public education platform, which is why many political observers and state leaders will be watching closely to see if the education community makes it out to the polls. If you don’t vote, the people who have been pushing for and allowing anti-public education policies to move through the legislature will assume that you agree with their actions. This election is your chance to send a strong message that the education community has taken notice and that it will not accept policies that are harmful to students, teachers, and retirees.

The numbers are on our side!

There’s always been talk around the capitol about how the education community could be kingmakers if they simply went out and voted. As an educator, you have the voting numbers to make or break the political ambitions of any candidate vying for a seat in the House, Senate, State Board of Education (SBOE), and statewide offices. You hold the key to change the makeup of the legislature because you have the numbers to do so: If we added up all current and retired public school personnel in Texas, we would easily top one million potential voters. Imagine what that number would creep up to if we started adding spouses, children, friends, and family members.

To give you an idea of the potential power you hold, here’s an example: In 2014, in the Republican primary runoff for the lieutenant governor’s seat, a total of 749,915 people voted, and the winner received 487,829 votes. Can you imagine if only half of those one million potential voters went out on Election Day and voted for candidates who are committed to supporting public education? The power is in the numbers, and that scares many people who are not friends of public education. They don’t want you to possess that type of influence inside the Texas Capitol.

Voting in the primary is the key!

Because of the way the Texas legislature has carved out legislative districts, a majority of the races will be decided in March. The key to a successful winning strategy is to vote in the primary of your district’s dominant party, regardless of your party affiliation. This is where we have a real shot at electing pro-public education candidates. You might be asking yourself, “Can I turn around and vote with the party that I align with in the general election if I voted for the opposite party in March?” Yes, that’s the beauty of this. It’s a clean slate, and you’ll be able to vote with your party in November.

Before you head to the polls, please be sure to cover your primary basics:

Talk to family, friends, neighbors, and peers and encourage them to head to the polls on Primary Election Day.

Do your research by visiting TeachtheVote.org to find out more about the House, Senate, SBOE, and statewide candidates competing for your vote.

Early voting begins Feb. 20 and ends March 2.

Primary Election Day is on Tuesday, March 6.

Let’s make it happen!

Our political power is in our numbers. We MUST get out and vote if the political climate at the Texas Capitol is going to change for the good. This is our time. We must show up for the primary, otherwise we can expect to be back in Austin playing defense by fending off terrible anti-education bills. Again. Wouldn’t it be nice if, instead of fighting for and defending educators, we could work together and advance common-sense education bills that benefit every child in the great public schools of Texas? So much is on the line during the 86th Legislature. You cannot afford to simply stay home in March and let a few of your neighbors dictate what will happen to your retirement and professional interests in 2019. There are 5.4 million kids counting on you to be their voice at the polls.

Get out and vote NOW! Early voting runs from Feb. 20 through March 2.

For more details on how ATPE supports Texas educators at the legislature, see our blog at TeachTheVote.org. For real-time updates from our lobby team, follow @teachthevote on Twitter.

]]>Tue, 20 Feb 2018 15:35:25 GMTfb875f28-d2b2-4d7d-83ed-dafafdbce37d

If you have a question about ATPE, state president Carl Garner has the answer! Wondering how to attend this year’s summit? Curious about local unit rebates? Want to know what happened at your association’s latest board meeting?

Instructions:
At the scheduled date and time of the meeting, dial in to the conference line. When prompted, enter the access code followed by the pound sign (#).

]]>Thu, 15 Feb 2018 15:09:48 GMTf29ae6fe-d70f-48f7-9ef6-67129f80ca94

If you live in Regions 16-19, you might have noticed a new face around your campus and in your region meetings. That’s Jeff Vega, ATPE’s new membership specialist for Regions 16-19! Jeff, a former educator, joined us last summer. ATPE talked to Jeff about his favorite moments as an educator and why he’s excited to work for our members.

Can you share some details about what you did before you came to ATPE?

Before I came to ATPE, I was an educator and coach. I lived in Wyoming and loved fishing, biking, and hiking in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado, and in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

What made you want to work for ATPE?

Moving away from a teaching/coaching role was a tough decision. My best friend kicked me in the pants and encouraged me to move into a role that would still positively affect education and, ultimately, the students. Becoming a regional representative at ATPE solidified my initial beliefs of why I wanted to work there in the first place. It is truly the best organization, and it allows me to continue to make a difference for educators and students, too.

What is your favorite part of working with Texas educators?

I truly love their dedication to the students and how welcoming they have been toward me.

What is the most important thing Texas educators can do for their profession?

Continue to inspire students to be the best versions of themselves that they can possibly be while also advocating for their profession. Educators must follow their own advice about being proactive and then role model that behavior through voting and participating in the system.

What’s your favorite thing about your part of the state?

The wonderful current and former educators that I meet.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

I won a state championship as a soccer player and coached in a state championship game for the high school I attended, in Campbell County, Wyoming.

What was your favorite moment as an educator?

I truly cannot pinpoint a favorite moment because they are all so special. However, there are some that really stand out in my mind. The four years of being the head boys’ soccer coach at a brand-new high school was a highlight. The building was not even completed yet when we started our journey. It was a wild ride and a memory that I will cherish forever.

I will also always remember helping my father coach his final football season. I was by his side (broken ankle and all) as his team won another championship, capping off his 41st season. I got to watch my father be inducted into the coaching hall of fame twice, alongside all my mentors.

I can also remember a former athlete of mine thanking me for moving him into a different position, after he complained, because it eventually landed him in the NFL. Now he designs Madden video games. Another former athlete thanked me for always pushing academics. He played soccer in college and eventually became a surgeon. I also remember many times sitting near my new students in schools where they had no real ESL support, translating with them and filling in the gaps. I loved seeing them years later and hearing their successes in life (in English). They introduced me to their families with such honor and respect.

Photo: ATPE Regional Membership Specialist Jeff Vega poses with ATPE member Eduardo Silva, a student teacher from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Like what you read? Make sure you never miss a story by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

]]>Tue, 13 Feb 2018 16:14:58 GMTe8f24215-80e5-41ba-bc24-dc1e2a65c829

Did you know that as an ATPE member you are eligible to receive discounts on life, home, auto, and personal lines insurance? Check out these amazing offers from some of our partners.

Life Insurance.

ATPE members/spouse or domestic partner who are age 59 and younger are now eligible for life insurance through MetLife using a short form application. The form includes only five medical questions and asks for height and weight. If no further information is needed upon review of your application, then you’re done! It’s that easy.

Members can also apply for up to $1,500,000 of coverage by completing the standard application that asks additional medical questions. For further information and application click here.

Auto and Home Insurance.

Liberty Mutual has partnered with ATPE to offer members auto and home insurance that could save you hundreds of dollars.* Along with quality coverage, expert advice, and personalized service, you could also enjoy our valuable and unique benefits, such as Better Car Replacement™, Accident Forgiveness, Home Protector Plus™, and our Multi-Policy Discount. Helping people live safer, more secure lives for more than 100 years, Liberty Mutual is a company you can trust.

Additional products and services provided to ATPE members include:

Lifetime Repair Guarantee.

Liberty Mutual Insurance holds our approved repair shops to the highest standards. That’s why, if you choose one of them to fix your car, you’ll receive a Lifetime Repair Guarantee.** We’ll even make the arrangements.

Renters Insurance.

If you rent your apartment, house, or condo, you probably need insurance. Remember, your landlord isn't responsible for your belongings, or if you need to find another place to live, or any personal liability you may face if someone is injured in your home. Renters Insurance covers your valuables—such as TV, laptop, and cell phone—for theft or damage at home, in your car or on the go.

Home Gallery™ App.

Liberty Mutual understands how much you value your personal property. The Home Gallery® app helps you create a home inventory to catalog your belongings quickly and easily. Available to anyone—whether you are a Liberty Mutual customer or not—the Home Gallery app is a must-have for homeowners and renters alike in the case of a loss or theft.

Call (855)-283-8255 or visit Liberty Mutual to learn more or get a free quote.

For more information on any these benefits and to learn more about the other great benefits ATPE has to offer, see the Services and Discounts page at atpe.org.

*Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow.
**Loss must be covered by your policy.

]]>Thu, 08 Feb 2018 15:22:52 GMT93be04c1-7554-4902-84fe-b6240feaa5df

Imagine a $500 shopping spree to buy items for your classroom!

One lucky ATPE professional member and two ATPE first-time professional members each received $500 as part of ATPE’s classroom makeover contest. Congratulations are in order to first-time professional members Jonathan Fisher, Wylie (14) ISD, and Julie Adams, Clear Creek ISD. Long-time member, Diane Hutto, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, was also a winner.

Winner Julie Adams says she’ll be spending her money on books for her students. “I can't wait to give the students books they love to read that are just right for their age. I also hope to rearrange the room and create a reset location/reading nook,” says Julie. “As a first-year teacher, getting started was tough financially and this gave me the ability to create the classroom I desired when I started.”

Want to be a winner, too? Make sure you renew your ATPE membership for 2018-19 by Oct. 31, 2018, and you just might be next!

The last day to register to vote for the upcoming primary election is Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. Did you move recently and need to double check your information, or aren’t sure if you’re registered? Visit “Am I Registered?” to double check your registration status and information, as well as voting locations and more.

Once you’re all set, encourage friends, family members, and colleagues to register to vote. Our greatest strength as public school employees lies within our numbers, so register, make a plan, and vote! Below is a list of important dates for the primary election coming up:

Last day to register to vote—Monday, Feb. 5, 2018

First day of early voting—Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018

Last day of early voting—Friday, March 2, 2018

Primary election—Tuesday, March 6, 2018

In Texas, most of our elections are decided by the primaries in March – not the general election in November. That’s why it’s important that we take a stand now! Don’t wait until November to let your voice be heard!

Curious about the candidates running for office and want to stay informed? Don’t forget to check out TeachTheVote.org. This resource is run by ATPE’s Government Relations team and is frequently updated with the latest news and information.

See you at the polls!

]]>Thu, 01 Feb 2018 15:50:28 GMT44f56c53-8ef5-4b0e-a3ab-ec52ac7c7dc4

Welcome back for another installment of our volunteer recognition program, Volunteer of the Month! Each month, we choose one member (or two!) who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in their commitment to ATPE and public education. We look for volunteers who exhibit outstanding leadership and tireless efforts, and we’re relying on YOU for nominees.

What is your job title?
We both are retired educators. Yolanda taught elementary science. Debra taught second grade.

How long have you been an ATPE member?
Debra has been a member since 2000 and Yolanda since 2009.

What advice would you give to a new educator coming into your position?
Join a teachers’ organization immediately. Start another retirement plan, even if it doesn’t seem possible. Most importantly, have a good mentor whom you can depend on and don’t be afraid to ask them questions. No one knows the answers when they first begin teaching—you learn as you go.

What is the most important thing you wish someone had told you when you started out in your career?
You will never have everything under control! It is a constant changing environment as an educator.

What is the most important thing Texas educators can do for their profession?
Stay informed of proposed legislation and bills that could affect education, and be aware of how you can be involved. Be sure to let your politicians know your opinion about politics involving educators. Be sure to be an educated voter!

Debra likes traveling, especially when it involves missions; loves to entertain her seven grandchildren; and stays busy volunteering as a teacher at after-school Bible clubs.

Like what you read? Make sure you never miss a story by following ATPE on Facebook and Twitter.

]]>Tue, 30 Jan 2018 15:47:24 GMT2decc09c-7588-488a-b02e-28177ab4e882

ATPE is excited to announce an exclusive discounts and rewards marketplace as a new benefit for our members!

What kind of discounts can you access? Nearly anything you can think of!

The marketplace offers discounts on:

Tickets to movies, concerts, and sporting events

Local restaurants, gyms, and shops

Student loan consolidation and refinancing

Personal loans and private student loans

TVs, computers, smart phones, and other electronics

Installment-based/pay-over-time shopping

Apparel, shoes, and accessories

Hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages

The marketplace also comes with a cashback rewards feature where you can earn 2%-20% cash back on nearly all purchases!

To take advantage of these exclusive savings, please log in to your web account and visit the ATPE services and discounts page under "Discounts & Rewards Marketplace."

]]>Thu, 25 Jan 2018 17:31:54 GMT60e62d8e-a771-4b69-99b3-a10b676bd600

Did you know that some ATPE membership categories close for the 2017-18 school year on Jan. 31, 2018?

That’s right! Professional, administrator, and associate members only have until the end of January 2018 to join ATPE! Once Feb. 1 hits, you won’t be able to join in these categories until membership opens for the 2018-19 school year.

Student teacher, college student, retired, and public membership categories remain open until March 31, 2018.

]]>Tue, 23 Jan 2018 15:47:54 GMT3fc4112b-4c87-465a-9b25-8f0af50abbcb

The Educator of the Year awards recognize ATPE members who demonstrate exceptional and innovative qualities in their classrooms or work environments. If you know of a stellar educator who deserves extra acknowledgment, be sure to submit their nomination by Feb. 1, 2018. Winners receive a $5,000 check from ATPE. The awards recognize excellence in five categories:

Administrator of the Year

Associate of the Year

Elementary Teacher of the Year

Secondary Teacher of the Year

Special Services Educator of the Year

Members wishing to nominate another educator can complete the online form. ATPE staff will then contact all nominees about completing an application and essay.

These applications will be reviewed by the Educator of the Year committee, which will select up to three finalists in each category. Finalists will be notified in May so that they can make plans to attend the 2018 APTE Summit in Dallas, where they will go through in-person interviews with the award committee. Finalists must be able to attend summit for the in-person interview. Winners will be announced at the 2018 ATPE Summit.

For more information about the ATPE Educator of the Year awards, visit atpe.org. Remember, nominations are due Feb. 1!

]]>Thu, 18 Jan 2018 17:07:37 GMTf41b1308-d252-409f-bd43-617a36a9e642

ATPE thanks all our committed volunteers for their hard work during our 2017-18 membership campaign, but a special thanks goes to our recruitment challenge winners! These members gave ATPE their all during this year’s membership campaign, and their extra effort paid off!

Not an ATPE member? Join the state’s top professional educators’ organization today.

]]>Wed, 17 Jan 2018 15:51:16 GMT56614964-5a6e-4b20-b246-c0a3acdc6be6

Welcome back to the second installment of our new volunteer recognition program—Volunteer of the Month! If you missed our inaugural post, you can read about November’s winner here! With this program, we hope to choose one member each month who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in their commitment to ATPE and public education. We are looking for volunteers who exhibit outstanding leadership and tireless efforts, and we’re relying on YOU for nominees.

Let’s meet our December Volunteer of the Month, Stacey Garcia!

What is your job title? Where do you work? How long have you been in this role?

My job title is fourth-grade math/science ESL teacher. I work at Mary Branch Elementary in Bryan ISD. I have been a fourth-grade teacher for one year, but have been in BISD for five years.

How long have you been an ATPE member? Why did you choose ATPE?

I have been an ATPE for two years, and I chose ATPE because they were lobbying for the items I felt were important for a teacher.

What advice would you give to a new educator coming into your position?

My advice would be to listen as best you can, even when listening is hard; love to the best of your ability, especially when loving is hard; and be patient to the best of your ability for all the adults who were not patient with that one child who tests your nerves daily.

What is the most important thing you wish someone had told you when you started out in your career?

I wish someone would have told me how hard, yet how satisfying, this job could be. This is by far the most emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausting job I have ever had, yet it is also the most emotionally and mentally rewarding job I have ever had.

What’s new in your district and/or classroom this year?

I have implemented flexible seating in my classroom, and it is the best classroom management decision I have ever made.

What’s one thing you would change about your job if money were no object?

I would change the type of technology I have in the classroom. I would love for the classroom to be more interactive, but I definitely need different forms of technology for that to happen.

Congratulations, Stacey! Texas public education is lucky to have you! Thank you for being an outstanding ATPE member.

Photo: Stacey Garcia (left) with Bryan ATPE President Leah Riggs.

Want to learn more about this program or have questions about how you can be an ATPE volunteer? Email our volunteer program coordinator, Anna Belle Burleson, at aburleson@atpe.org.

Not an ATPE member? Join the state’s top professional educators’ organization today.

]]>Thu, 11 Jan 2018 16:40:00 GMT27d3a5d1-cb20-48a7-8f69-c5b3ced08492

What could be better than attending an inspiring educational conference where you can connect with fellow education professionals, learn about the newest trends in your field, flex your creative muscles, and explore downtown Austin? Attending the same conference, and receiving professional development credits for it!

The Association of Texas Professional Educators is pleased to announce that we are teaming up once again with SXSW EDU to provide conference attendees with continuing professional education (CPE) credits. You already know that attending SXSW EDU is an amazing professional development opportunity! ATPE just makes it official.

How does it work?

Sessions and workshops that qualify for CPE credit will be tagged both on the online schedule and in the printed conference materials to help attendees identify eligible sessions. SXSW EDU attendees who attend the CPE-eligible sessions will receive a code that they can use to log in to the ATPE Professional Learning Portal and receive credit. And you don’t have to be an ATPE member to use our system. You can log on as a guest to claim credit for your CPE hours.

What types of sessions qualify for CPE credit?

Last year, ATPE’s CPE experts reviewed the SXSW EDU schedule and identified more than 150 sessions and workshops that were eligible for CPE credit. Sessions that were CPE approved for educators included ones on equity, innovation, social emotional learning, mental health, implementation, design thinking, and more. If you’re unsure whether your session meets the criteria, check your SXSW EDU program, or come see us at the ATPE booth.

Want to know more about ATPE and CPE credits? We’ll have a staff member in attendance at SXSW EDU. Check your program to find out where our booth will be!

Not an ATPE member? Join the state’s top professional educators’ organization today.

]]>Wed, 10 Jan 2018 16:42:58 GMT7087863c-55c7-4da8-ab0f-324dfeeb44a9

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s post is from Region 10 Director Meredith Malloy.

Why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

The moment I changed from a business degree to an education degree, my Ferris ATPE local leaders signed me up as a college student. Growing up I watched my mom, Judy Malloy, be involved with ATPE and saw the importance of our organization. At Sam Houston State University, I helped reactivate the local unit and served as an officer for two years. As a first-year teacher, I was a campus rep in the Ferris local unit. Through the years, I moved up into officer positions. At the region level, our state president, Carl Garner, and a few other amazing Region 10 leaders kept after me to run for region office. I finally agreed, and the rest is history!

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

My favorite part is hearing from the other region directors and state staff. We all know how things work in our own areas, but it is nice to hear from others. We all have unique experiences and ideas. Coming together to discuss our organization and members is very important and something I take very seriously. ATPE is a member-owned, member-governed organization, and we have to do what is best for all of our members!

How has being on the board helped your region?

I strive to be a positive yet strong voice for my region. I do my best to speak for my members and ensure their interests are being considered. I am constantly communicating with members and share information from the Board of Directors meetings. My hope is to be a resource for my Region 10 officers and all Region 10 ATPE members!

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

Do it! Being on the ATPE Board is a wonderful experience. You learn so much about the inner workings of our organization. It is a large commitment but very rewarding. Be prepared to spend time before the meetings reading the material and getting ideas together. During the meeting, it is vital that all members participate and share information. After the meeting, you share information with region officers and local members. My first two years have been challenging, but it has been a great experience I will always treasure!

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

Bling and travel! I love jewelry, so I am a Premier Designs independent consultant. I get to buy and sell beautiful jewelry!!! I also love to travel. Over the last few years, I have been to New York and Boston, and I am spending Christmas in Colorado. Exploring new places and spending time with friends and family is very important to me!

Not an ATPE member? Join the state’s top professional educators’ organization today.

]]>Thu, 04 Jan 2018 14:49:52 GMT0d3bfb7f-717c-452a-a723-444a7681e49e

Previously on the ATPE Blog, we introduced you to the Millsap Mentor Program and Deann Lee, Millsap ISD superintendent and ATPE member. This month, we’re featuring two other ATPE members from Charlotte Anderson Elementary in Mansfield who happen to be in a mentor/mentee partnership. Janet Olson, the mentor, and Canyon Samuel, the mentee, discuss what it’s like to be involved in a mentor program and the benefits it brings to their education careers.

Tell us about Mansfield ISD’s mentor program.

Janet Olson (JO): MISD has provided a mentoring program, KEEPS, to support the growth and development of all new teachers since 2002. KEEPS stands for “Knowledge-based Encounters Ensuring Professional Success.” New teachers in their first or second year of teaching are paired with a mentor in the same grade level for two years. I’m happy to volunteer within the KEEPS program because it is a very beneficial experience.

Describe what you do in the KEEPS program.

Canyon Samuel (CS): As a part of the program, Janet and I collaborate to meet the needs of many students and foster my professional growth as a new teacher. She provides me with resources, ideas for classroom management, and best practices to help not only me but my students as well throughout this first year. The KEEPS program allows mentors and mentees to also take a “release day” to reflect, collaborate, and share more ideas to further a mentee’s growth in the profession.

JO: Collaborating with Canyon and fostering our professional success is enjoyable, and I value the relationship we’re building together. I assist in any way necessary to help her more easily meet many student needs and share resources, best practices, and classroom management strategies, in addition to communicating with families, organizing and planning curriculum, and navigating the multitude of daily responsibilities encountered within the profession. We meet with other mentees and mentors on campus at least three times per year to connect, reflect, and evaluate during informal roundtable discussions. The program provides us with a full day of release time to plan or observe other classrooms on our own campus or within the district. We assess whatever Canyon may need, meet the needs quickly and effectively, and network to achieve success.

What is your favorite part of being a mentee or mentor?

CS: My favorite part about having a mentor is having someone to turn to. Despite having separate classes, teaching is a team effort. We always do what we can to help one another, and it creates an environment that is like a family. Having someone to help me in my first few years of teaching will be beneficial and has already helped me so much. Janet is someone who has the extended knowledge and expertise to help whenever needed.

JO: My favorite parts of the KEEPS program are the lasting relationships developed based on mutual respect and a lifelong love for students and learning from one another.

What would you say to someone thinking about joining a mentor program or a school interested in starting one?

CS: I would strongly encourage any new teacher to join a mentoring program. It’s beneficial and helps you build your knowledge in the profession. A mentoring program is important to me because it helps with professional growth and building positive and productive relationships. I am someone who is always wanting to learn, and having a mentor to gather knowledge from is a great way to start a career.

JO: Try it! Being a mentor is immensely rewarding. It is a terrific way to expand your perspective and enhance your professional development by seeing the career with fresh eyes. You’ll become exposed to current university curriculum trends, as well as, often, the latest technology expertise new teachers offer. The mentee/mentor relationship adds an exciting new energy level to the day-to-day routine. Being a mentor is one way to continue committing to excellence and ensure our valued students receive the very best educational experiences preparing and inspiring them to lead our world as productive citizens of character.

Like what you read? Make sure you never miss a story by following us on Facebook and Twitter. Not an ATPE member yet? Join today at atpe.org.

]]>Tue, 02 Jan 2018 15:35:32 GMT7c7b81d8-5cc0-4c35-983c-f44b9289b975

Relationships are the heart of public education. Positive relationships among all groups create an energetic and exciting environment and establish a strong foundation for learning.

Parents, staff, students, and even guests describe the environment at Williams/Ledger Elementary, where I serve as principal, as “joy-filled.” We strive to make our school a place where people are welcomed and where kids (and teachers) want to be.

Positive relationships are the key to a joyful environment. They are characterized by:

Open, two-way, communication

Active listening

Quality feedback

Transparency (let people see who you are)

Questions (tackle the tough issues)

Celebrations

Collaboration (work together)

Mutual trust and respect

Giving of oneself (servant leadership)

Personal responsibility for outcomes

It takes effort to build trust within an organization. Open communication, shared values and beliefs, high visibility, and transparency are vital for leaders who are striving to make changes.

Collaborative decision-making and stakeholder buy in are essential components in a public school setting.

Marla Sullivan is in her sixth year as principal at Williams/Ledger Elementary School. This is her 28th year in public education. Mrs. Sullivan holds a bachelor of music education from Baylor University, a master of education from University of Texas at Austin, and her mid-management certification from Tarleton State University.

]]>Thu, 14 Dec 2017 13:28:44 GMTb62a5aee-4514-4c59-b4e1-a5a583f4a646

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from our staff members. Today’s post features ATPE’s software developer, Juan Castañeda.

What drew you to working at ATPE?

I was unemployed and needed a job! Funny story, the whole night before my interview, I was really sick and didn’t sleep. During my interview, I was functioning at 50 percent, but somehow I was good enough to get hired!

How long have you been working at ATPE? What was your first job here?

I’ve been at ATPE for five years now. I started as a contractor, and after six months, I became a full-time employee. My first project was fixing the legal user interface.

What is the most important thing you have learned while working here?

You have to listen to people, understand them, understand what are they trying to do. You have to do that before you start trying to fix their problems.

What is your favorite part of working at ATPE?

This job provides great work-life balance. And I also really love the people.

Share something fun about yourself that members might not know.

I have been doing improv for two years. I have also done standup comedy. And I take an ice bath once a week.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the largest educator group in Texas.

]]>Tue, 12 Dec 2017 15:38:32 GMTa35d8cd0-d298-4293-8009-ae4674270ee1

Between the holiday parties, confirming travel plans, and purchasing gifts for friends and family, the holiday season knows how to zap your wallet—and your time and energy, too! But that’s why ATPE provides members superior services and discounts, because we know public school employees are short on time and money. Check out these holiday-saving tips.

Avoid the crowded mall parking lots and long checkout lines by shopping at Azigo, an exclusive, online shopping experience. Azigo has all the stores you’d find at a physical mall, such as Kohl’s, Target, Nordstrom, Zappos, Best Buy, and Sephora, which means you can shop for items like clothes and electronics at a discount—from your home—and get some money back in your pocket.

Spreading holiday cheer by traveling? ATPE members can save on car rentals through Alamo®, Avis®, Budget, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, and National Car Rental. If you use your own car, remember that members get a first-year discount on roadside assistance from AAA, and our partnership with Liberty Mutual means an auto insurance plan that helps save you hundreds.

If your holiday travels include an overnight stay, ATPE members can find great deals on a wide variety of hotels and lodging. If you need a fun reason to get out of the house, take advantage of the discounts at theme parks, zoos, and vacation and cruise packages your membership provides you.

A lot of us like to put our holiday purchases on our credit cards, so why not use the ATPE Visa Signature® credit card—the only card that donates money back to ATPE programs with every purchase? You can earn 5,000 bonus reward points after your first purchase, on top of the fact that you get one point for every net dollar spent and can redeem those points for cash back, gift cards, and more.

Not a member? Join ATPE today to become part of the largest and most trusted educator group in Texas. Members can more than recoup the cost of their dues by using their ATPE discounts!

As always, you will also see what other ATPE members have been up to and learn about ways the association is continuing its mission of making a difference in the lives Texas educators and students!

This issue’s Brain Break features a photo challenge. Check your answers below, and send your completed photo to contest@atpe.org by Sept. 29 for a chance to win an ATPE-branded prize!

The Eiffel Tower of Paris, Texas

The Alamo

Cadillac Ranch

Hamilton Pool Preserve

Big Bend National Park

San Jacinto Monument

Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

Port Isabel Lighthouse

Fort Worth Stockyards

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Pleasure Pier

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge

Not an ATPE member? Join the state’s top professional educators’ organization today.

]]>Tue, 05 Dec 2017 14:56:14 GMTd2b6164e-e03f-461f-859b-723bb56e05cf

In March of 2017, ATPE member Katie Landaverde and her team at Lake Dallas Elementary won the Rather Prize, setting off a chain reaction within her school, district, and community.

Landaverde’s winning idea was simple—teachers, community members, and high school students would teach short morning workshops designed to help students explore a new hobby or interest.

The workshops, which the school calls “the Rather Project,” have not only helped students explore new interests, they’ve given community members, parents, students, and staff a new way to participate in the school. Read more about this exciting new program in the Winter 2017 issue of ATPE News.

Wondering if you can make morning workshops work on your campus? Here’s how Lake Dallas Elementary does it:

School employees volunteer to be on the Rather Project Committee. This committee oversees the day-to-day functions of the project, including assigning students to workshops, securing the necessary supplies, helping mentors work through their curriculum, providing additional support during workshops, and checking in students. Lake Dallas Elementary tries to make sure staff members with different interests and abilities are on the team to assist community volunteers with lesson planning.

The district promotes the program among all the schools, with parents, and across the community to encourage volunteers. Since your school’s program won’t have the backing of the Rather Prize, you can also ask your community to pitch in by contributing supplies needed for the workshops.

At the beginning of the year, students sign up for an interest category. Lake Dallas uses the following categories: STEM, fine arts, sports, movement, language, leadership, and culture. Categories can be determined based on the feedback you get from potential volunteers.

Community members, teachers from all of the district’s schools, and high school students submit course ideas, and staff members assign each course to one of the broader interest categories.

Students are assigned to courses that fit their interests. To make sure classes run smoothly, they are broken into two age categories—kindergarten through second grade and third through fifth grade.

Students and parents are notified of their assignments. Let them know at least a couple of weeks in advance because parents will need to make plans to get their kids to school early on the week of their workshop.

A few weeks before the workshop begins, staff members check in with the mentor to make sure he or she has a solid plan for each day of the class.

Like what you read? Make sure you never miss a story by following us on Facebook and Twitter. Not an ATPE member yet? Join today at atpe.org.

]]>Mon, 04 Dec 2017 15:55:44 GMT5fd607f5-f309-469e-a5a8-03a24e5db9af

Welcome to the first installment of our new volunteer recognition program—Volunteer of the Month! With this program, we will choose one member each month who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in their commitment to ATPE and public education. We are looking for volunteers who exhibit outstanding leadership and tireless efforts, and we’re relying on YOU for nominees. The winner will be featured on the ATPE Blog.

Meet November’s Volunteer of the Month, Julie Fore!

What is your job title? Where do you work? How long have you been in this role?

My name is Julie Fore, and I have been a pre-K instructional specialist with the Early Learning Department in Dallas ISD for four years. This is my 15th year in education.

How long have you been an ATPE member? Why did you choose ATPE?

I have been an ATPE member for six years. My husband and I chose to join ATPE for its basic core values, the feeling of “family” that we felt with other members, and the affordability of the coverage that we knew we needed as educators.

What advice would you give to a new educator coming into your position?

One of the most solid points of advice that my own past teachers gave me once I graduated from Arkansas Tech University with my teaching degree was to make sure I joined a teachers’ association. This is advice that I pass on to new teachers that I encounter as well: “Make sure you are covered in the event that the unexpected happens!” It’s alarming how many new, and even veteran, teachers feel that they don’t need any type of coverage. I am constantly looking for new ways to engage fellow educators in discussions about ATPE, both for recruiting new members as well as keeping current members active.

How have you grown as an educator over the years?

Joining ATPE and prioritizing the need to stay active in meetings and events with my fellow members has helped me grow in my educational knowledge, my political knowledge, and in my leadership skills. It is a pleasure to lead and serve my fellow Dallas teachers and educational partners as the Dallas ATPE president.

Share something fun about yourself.

My husband and I love to travel, and we especially love when we are visiting other parts of Texas and find fellow ATPE members! With both of us being educators, our vacations often overlap with opportunities to find resources for our classrooms and grow our own knowledge about best practices.

Congratulations, Julie! Texas public education is lucky to have you! Thank you for being an outstanding ATPE member.

Want to learn more about this program or have questions about how you can be an ATPE volunteer? Email our volunteer program coordinator, Anna Belle Burleson, at aburleson@atpe.org.

Not an ATPE member? Join the state’s top professional educators’ organization today.

]]>Thu, 30 Nov 2017 16:01:56 GMT7ff99179-a267-4201-a378-f122542e646f

Today is the day – #GivingTuesday is here! We’re on our way to raising $5,000 for your ATPE-PAC in 24 hours. Will you help us?

We have an important election season coming up early next year! Your ATPE Governmental Relations team is already preparing for what is bound to be a busy and costly election season. There is so much on the line for public education next session. We are going to need all of the help we can get!

To give your team a fighting chance, we need a strong ATPE-PAC fund in order. A strong fund will help us financially assist officeholders and candidates who will stand up for your profession. We cannot afford to sit back and not back the PAC!

ATPE-PAC is not funded by member dues and relies heavily on voluntary donations from individual ATPE members like you.

ATPE-PAC solicits contributions only from ATPE members, employees, and their families. Participation in ATPE-PAC is voluntary. Members can contribute any amount or nothing at all without affecting their ATPE membership status, rights, or benefits.

]]>Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:21:44 GMT507db99e-2a0c-4b49-9928-bc04ff37a58b

All ATPE members are invited to join ATPE State President Carl Garner as he hosts a series of quarterly conference calls to recap ATPE Board of Directors meetings, discuss association issues, and answer members' questions. This is a great opportunity to get to know the association and our state president a little better! The conference calls will be held on the following dates and times:

Instructions: At the scheduled date and time of the meeting, dial in to the conference line. When prompted, enter the access code followed by the pound sign (#).

Not a member? Join ATPE today to become part of the largest and most trusted educator group in Texas.

]]>Mon, 27 Nov 2017 15:47:30 GMTcfb34074-eb79-4781-b7b4-4bf808a1a63arequires school districts to place cameras in some special education classrooms. What does this mean for Texas teachers?]]>

In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed legislation requiring public school districts to place cameras in self-contained special education settings upon request by a parent or district staff member. The law was amended in 2017 after the Texas attorney general gave the original legislation a far more expansive interpretation than the legislature intended.

Many of our members wonder what this new law means for them.

Here are some important provisions:

An educator or parent can request a camera in the self-contained placement where they work or where their child receives instruction.

The camera should view the entire space, other than restrooms or changing areas, and it must be sound equipped.

The district is required to maintain the camera only as long as the requestor or his or her child remains in the setting, or until the requestor withdraws the request.

At the end of the school year, if the district intends to remove the camera equipment, notice must be provided to the other parents, who can then make their own request for the cameras to remain.

The law provides specific procedural requirements for making or addressing requests and investigating alleged misconduct that may be caught by the cameras.

Click on the the links above to read the full text of the law and learn more about procedural requirements.

]]>Tue, 21 Nov 2017 15:34:47 GMT1145e39f-cc0c-4021-9ffc-73888cdda151support the vital work of the ATPE Political Action Committee (ATPE-PAC) through #GivingTuesday.]]>

On Nov. 28, the ATPE family will come together for 24 hours of unprecedented giving to support the vital work of the ATPE Political Action Committee (ATPE-PAC) through #GivingTuesday.

ATPE-PAC is part of ATPE’s political advocacy arm that works for you, your profession, and your students. As you may know, public education was a clear target during the regular and special sessions, and we cannot allow that to happen when the legislature is back in session in 2019. We can change things around before then by having a healthy PAC fund going into the 2018 elections and by financially supporting officeholders and candidates who are concerned about and committed to a greater public education system.

Help us raise awareness and funds for ATPE-PAC by saving the date and making a donation online this #GivingTuesday, Nov. 28.

ATPE-PAC solicits contributions only from ATPE members, employees, and their families. Participation in ATPE-PAC is voluntary. Members can contribute any amount or nothing at all without affecting their ATPE membership status, rights, or benefits.

]]>Thu, 16 Nov 2017 22:17:36 GMT136f6e11-c137-4983-936d-81be82d29cba

Educators know that communicating with students electronically can be dangerous. The proliferation of electronic communication tools—emails, texts, snapchats, etc.—has also been named as a cause for the increased reporting of inappropriate student-teacher relationships.

The legislature addressed this concern by mandating that each school district adopt a local policy regulating electronic communications between employees and students. The new law defines electronic communication very broadly to include emails, text messages, instant messages, and any communications made through the internet, including a social media website or a social networking website.

The law requires that the policy:

include provisions designed to prevent improper electronic communications between a school employee and a student;

allow a school employee to elect not to disclose to students the employee’s personal telephone number or email address; and

include provisions instructing a school employee about the proper method for notifying appropriate local administrators about an incident in which a student engages in improper communications with the school employee.

The last requirement is significant. Educators are often at a loss as to what to do when they receive an unsolicited but inappropriate communication from a student. They tend to either show the communication to their friends for advice or just delete it as quickly as possible. Neither of these is a good idea.

With this new requirement, educators will have guidance. But it is critical that they know what that guidance is. Be sure to seek out, read, and understand your district’s electronic communication policy.

If you are an eligible ATPE member who has a question about communication with students, you can contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department by calling our toll-free number, 1-800-777-2873 (ATPE) between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Or you may use our confidential, electronic submission system.

Join today to become part of the state’s largest and most trusted educator group.

]]>Thu, 16 Nov 2017 15:04:22 GMT77768e26-70fa-4b75-b2a7-b798a915769f

Although we are in a small, far west Texas border town, and one of the poorest school districts in Texas, creativity abounds in Presidio!

The population of the extremely remote Presidio is a little over 5,000. Located within a stone’s throw of Mexico, our closest Walmart, mall, or movie theater is four hours away. (Not that it is a bad thing!) However, in this little, dusty, west Texas town, the students excel in the fine arts. We have excellent band, drama, mariachi, folkloric, and fine art programs in our district.

How did this happen?

The Presidio Fine Arts Festival. About 10 years ago, we decided to showcase these amazing students, their creativity, and their incredible talent through an annual Fine Arts Festival. Many buildings in downtown Presidio are empty, and we thought they would be an awesome place to put the artwork of all the students in the district (as well as former students and local artists).

During the festival, we block off the main streets and set up a stage that runs nonstop from 12 p.m. until 2 a.m. with nothing but dance groups and bands—all from the area. This is an event that the whole town, and now out-of-towners, comes out to enjoy! Every year this party grows. It’s a beautiful celebration of life, culture, and talents that are found in our unique area of Texas. The next Presidio Fine Arts Festival will be held on April 5–7, 2018. Everyone is welcome to come!

Social Media. Thanks to the growth of social media, I found a new way to promote the success of our students and share what we are up to in the classroom. We have our own Facebook page that showcases students’ work. We have thousands of followers! Social media both helps build students’ confidence and promotes their work. They LOVE having their art posted on the page and seeing all of the comments. The internet also makes it possible for students to enter competitions and showcase their work in places that they didn’t have access to before.

A Supportive Community. If I didn’t have the total support of the superintendent, the school board, my principals, and the students’ families, then none of this would have happened. They have given me the freedom and trust to let these kids spread their wings and fly.

It is amazing to be a part of this program. The kids here are family-oriented, good kids. We are 99.9 percent Hispanic, and many of our students come directly from Mexico. Some have had to leave their families in Mexico to come (legally, of course) to school in Texas and get a better education. Often, they do not speak English, and language can become a barrier. In fine arts, this is not the case because music, art, and dance are universal languages.

The students have found a place where all can succeed and excel—no matter where they come from.

We have had so many success stories from the fine arts department here. We have had artwork displayed at the Saatchi Gallery in London, England. A high school art student won the Congressional Art Competition, and her work hung for a year in the Capitol in Washington, DC. Students have won and placed in state and national art competitions for the past several years. Many of our students have gone on to become wonderful artists in their own right.

Besides all of this hoopla and exposure, do you know what the best part is? We have so much fun in class together. They make me laugh every day. That is why I show up to school and still find my job fun!

See the Winter 2017 issue of ATPE News for more stories from Texas educators about how fine arts programs have impacted their students and their schools.

Laurel Holman is a 1994 graduate of Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s in art education and has been teaching art ever since. She has taught all levels, from pre-K through 12th grade. Most of her teaching experience has been spent in Presidio, Texas, but Laurel also taught all around the state and even spent a year in Alaska. She is a single parent to a now-almost-grown senior in high school and is also a practicing artist. Some of Laurel’s artwork can be seen on her Facebook page. She states that she likes to incorporate her other work experience and hobbies, such as managing ranches, cowgirl and cattle work, horseback riding, and doing extra/background work on a few television series, into her own artwork and her classroom.

“I truly still enjoy what I do and get excited about what the kids are doing in my classroom and seeing their growth and creativity. They keep me laughing and young at heart! My advice to my young, aspiring students and artists is to never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something! There will be some people that will try to dull your shine. Don’t let this happen. Follow your passion, stay true to yourself, and always, ALWAYS do the right thing—even when nobody is watching.”

Not an ATPE member? Join the state’s top professional educators’ organization today.

]]>Tue, 14 Nov 2017 15:45:05 GMT50281bff-9635-4640-b6c9-5af0bfa734ed

I once asked myself, “Why, of all the jobs I could have done, did I choose to become a teacher? No, not just a teacher, a middle school teacher?” I had to stop and ponder that for a while because I didn’t have an answer. In the end, I knew that I wanted to make a difference—not in the world or in the district, but in just one child’s life.

Middle school teachers wear multiple hats. We go above and beyond our regular duties by stopping fights, pulling duty in the hallways, and preparing our classrooms. Each classroom is filled with multiple brains growing and absorbing, charged with external stimuli. However, the battle to capture students’ attention is a very different matter with 30 minds in the classroom focusing on things like boys, girls, food, and sports. In my experience, providing what each student needs helps them focus more on learning and not their behavior.

Sometimes students need more than a learning environment. Effective middle school teachers must possess a natural empathy for all their students. Some students have difficult home lives and like to use teachers as their punching bags. These kids tend to feel threatened and exposed to their surroundings, and we must show them love, trust, and self-control and help them maintain a sense of worth. Occasionally, all they want is to rant and argue and have someone listen to them. The teacher can become the listener who allows them to vent. Sometimes, students stay for my UIL practice after school three days out of the week because they don’t want to go home. They seek out the love and affection in us, as teachers, that they don’t get from parents, guardians, brothers, or sisters.

Thinking outside the box is imperative in the middle school learning environment. Teachers must redirect students’ misbehavior discreetly because angry kids want attention, even if it is for bad behavior. Handling their behavior without calling attention to it helps the classroom stay in order. Showing respect for students is key to running a successful middle school classroom. As adults, we have to display the type of behavior we want our students to mirror. TeacherVision.com recommends some classroom management strategies for preventing bad behavior.

Our students live in a complex world, a world that immerses them in craziness. In today’s scary world, we are not just educators; we are surrogate mothers, fathers, guidance counselors, friends, and listeners. We may be the only ones they ever have, so my goal has always been to provide my students a safe and effective learning environment. I love when my students trust me enough to come to me with their struggles.

Engaging in meaningful conversations with these young adults keeps me in love with my profession. It does have its own complications, but I have learned adaptation is the key—and that’s what keeps me growing as a teacher. We are a special kind of crazy. We are responsible for guiding teenagers through some of their toughest years in life. We are challenged to inspire greatness in young minds. We are pushed beyond our limits; however, some days we are appreciated BEYOND our expectations. And it is in those days that I am reminded of that “why” question that I sometimes find myself pondering: I am making a difference…one student at a time.

Melissa Lynn McClenahan has been in the education field since 2002. She has a passion for eighth-grade language arts/reading and writing but has taught sixth graders as well. McClenahan received her English degree from the University of Texas Pan American. She truly loves teaching and hopes to continue enriching the minds of tomorrow for years to come.

Election Day is today! Texans will vote on a variety of constitutional amendments. Although the proposed amendments don’t specifically concern public education, many Texas voters will also be considering local ballot propositions, including school bonds. ATPE encourages you to research the issues and exercise your right to vote in all elections.

Enter your information to register. Be sure to use your most-frequently accessed email address (preferably your home address so we can avoid issues with campus spam filters). Also, note that your password will need to contain a special character (such as ?, !, or @). If you don’t know your Member ID, contact us.

2. Check your email and activate your ATPE account.

Once you register, you will receive a “Confirm Your Registration” email. If you don’t receive it right away, be sure to check your junk/spam folder for this email. It contains a link that will activate your ATPE account. You will not be able to log in until you have clicked on this link.

ATPE values honesty. We want you to understand the superior protection your membership affords you. That’s why we think it is important to provide you with the details of your insurance policy. Not every organization is transparent about their policy, but we’re proud of the protection we offer. We think you deserve to know exactly what you’re getting for your membership.

Two of our biggest champions in the Texas House of Representatives announced this week that they will not seek reelection: Texas House Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) and House State Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Cook (R-Corsicana).

The significance of these announcements cannot be overstated. Speaker Straus made public education the top priority of the Texas House. Under his leadership and with the hard work of his committee chairs like Rep. Cook, the House not only blocked the Senate’s reckless private school voucher bills, but protected educators from bills that would have taken away their rights and attempted to silence the voices of teachers who advocate for students as members of professional associations like ATPE. Unlike Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Speaker and his team in the House understood that most Texans do not support privatizing our schools, anti-teacher payroll deduction bills, or property tax gimmicks. Real Texans want strong public schools and true property tax relief through meaningful school finance solutions, which Straus and Cook prioritized.

The void that will be created by the absence of Speaker Straus and Chairman Cook makes your involvement in the 2018 primary and general elections more important than ever. Anti-education forces are already celebrating victory with the departure of these two leaders, predicting that voucher bills will sail through the House in the next legislative session. But you can still prevent that.

If every ATPE member shows a willingness to stand up for our kids and the education profession, our combined voices will carry the day in the 2018 elections. You can start by making a modest contribution today to the ATPE-PAC, which helps us support those candidates and officeholders who stand up for Texas public schools, students, and educators.

Your students and your fellow educators need you to use your teacher voice now to support them in the upcoming elections. Learn more about this week’s game-changing announcements on our blog, and watch for complete candidate profiles, survey responses, and updated voting records coming soon to our website at TeachtheVote.org.

ATPE-PAC solicits contributions only from ATPE members, employees, and their families. Participation in ATPE-PAC is voluntary. Members can contribute any amount or nothing at all without affecting their ATPE membership status, rights, or benefits.

]]>Fri, 27 Oct 2017 15:55:29 GMT2aa50e3c-ac50-44f1-9765-6a11733030c0

First-time professional members can join ATPE for the low rate of $125—but only for a few more days! Don’t miss your chance to become a member of the largest educators’ group in Texas. Here are five top reasons more than 100,000 Texas educators join ATPE every year:

Join now to get all the benefits of an ATPE membership for this amazingly low rate. The deal ends Oct. 31, 2017!

]]>Thu, 26 Oct 2017 14:00:46 GMTbf625f36-4fab-4de4-81fe-a39973059941

Did you know ATPE members have access to our Professional Learning Portal? You can earn continuing professional education (CPE) credits via online courses and webinars—all on your own time and free of charge. The Professional Learning Portal also provides a tracking system so you can maintain a comprehensive history of CPE hours and certificates.

Haven’t checked our Professional Learning Portal in a while? Have no fear! Here’s the latest roundup of courses.

Getting Your Seniors Ready for College
From Allison Venuto, ATPE member and owner of Ducks in a Row Personal Organizing, “Getting Your Seniors Ready for College” dives into the unique opportunity that working with seniors presents—preparing them for college. Many seniors begin college with fewer skills than their professors expect. Allison uses her experience in systems organizing to discuss ways educators (and even parents) can help prepare their students for college. This course addresses organization, soft skills, and much more.

Make the Right Choice: Taking Responsibility for Your Happiness and Success
Known nationwide as an author, improv actor, and motivator, Joel Zeff addressed ATPE members at the 2017 Summit in July. His insightful and funny keynote focused on creativity, communication, and teamwork. This course was recorded live from summit and draws from Joel’s book, Make the Right Choice: Creating a Positive, Innovative, and Productive Work Life. Joel believes we can make the choice to live a more creative, passionate, and productive life. But how? Listen to this session to find out.

FERPA (The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) for Educators
Join ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp as he explores the ramifications of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, for educators. FERPA is a federal privacy law that protects the privacy of student education records. Educators should be aware of the importance of protecting the privacy of students and safeguarding educational records. If an educator does not protect the privacy of a student’s educational records as outlined in the law, the educator and the school may both face consequences. Learn more about ATPE’s protection benefits at atpe.org/protection.

Information Literacy in the Digital Age
We live in an increasingly technology-filled world, but how should teachers adapt for their students? Andrea Keller, ATPE’s 2014 Special Services Educator of the Year and a librarian in Irving ISD, offers resources and ideas on how to teach your students about information literacy and how to be “web detectives.” Through this course, you will learn the definition of information literacy as well as ways to work with students on becoming great digital citizens. The course also provides resources and links to use in your own classroom. Check out Andrea’s recent blog post on information literacy.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to take advantage of ATPE’s professional development for principals, teachers, and paraeducators.

]]>Tue, 24 Oct 2017 14:57:12 GMTa244a34a-6fa6-4d64-a8b2-ecbada90d868

On Nov. 7, Texans will vote on a variety of constitutional amendments. Although the proposed amendments don’t specifically concern public education, many Texas voters will also be considering local ballot propositions, including school bonds. ATPE encourages you to research the issues and exercise your right to vote in all elections.

Check out VoteTexas.gov to see what issues will be on your ballot. Early voting runs from Monday, Oct. 23, through Friday, Nov. 3.

Primary elections are right around the corner, and now is a great time to make sure you’re registered to vote. Have you moved recently? Check to see if you’re registered at your new address. Are your friends and colleagues registered? Encourage them to check as well.

For more details on how ATPE supports Texas educators at the legislature, see our blog at TeachTheVote.org. For real-time updates from our lobby team, follow @teachthevote on Twitter.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to fight for Texas public education. We’re 100,000 strong. Will you add your voice?

]]>Fri, 20 Oct 2017 14:18:13 GMTcec114be-fed2-44ea-8597-9a0bca5fc7ed

I believe my profession is the noblest calling on the planet. But I know from 29 years of experience that it is also one of the most difficult. Some say the only tougher job is being a parent!

I know the rewards of being an educator, so it breaks my heart each time I see someone walk away. That’s why I strive to create an environment in which educators are supported through the early years in the profession, which is when most quit, as well as to continue to grow veteran teachers.

Four years ago, I became the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction at Millsap ISD. One of the objectives in the job description that drew me to the position was the development of a mentor program. It was my dream come true! While each district must create a program that meets the needs of their staff, I encourage any educator seeking a job to find a place that talks the mentor talk and walks the support walk.

The Millsap Mentor Program provides new MISD teachers the opportunity to receive the ongoing support, encouragement, and understanding necessary to experience success. The mentor program also recognizes exemplary teachers as mentors who will provide leadership. We believe personal growth occurs in effective instruction, enabling students to acquire the skills, competencies, and understanding necessary for success. Mentors assist mentees with all aspects of the profession and support their teaching and instructional practices. Teachers previously employed but new to MISD are also included in the mentor program. Aspects of our program include:

Teachers new to Millsap ISD are contacted over email and phone calls, or approached in person by various staff members, prior to New Staff Orientation during the summer.

A two-day New Staff Orientation is held where new employees are introduced to and trained by key staff members in the areas of mission/vision/values and the operations of technology, transportation, custodial, maintenance, and business procedures. New staff are trained in the instructional implementation of the books Fundamental 5 and The First Days of School, T-TESS, Thinking Maps, etc. Principals meet with new staff, and we invite inspirational speakers. A highlight of our orientation is Meet Your Mentor Day where mentors and mentees have lunch together and get to know each other. We also give attendees an evaluation to fill out to gather input for future orientations.

Mentors receive training on the phases new teachers go through and how to offer support throughout the cycle. Expectations are reviewed and appreciation is expressed for mentors who share their wisdom and experience. Our mentor unit meets at least once each semester to exchange ideas and receive additional training. A small stipend is given to mentors for the extra time required to adequately support a mentee.

Coworkers and the administration offer constant support through many means of communication throughout the year.

New employee classrooms are visited on a frequent basis, particularly at the beginning of the school year, but visits at least every two weeks continue throughout the year.

Mentors and mentees observe each other’s classrooms to hone best practices and provide productive feedback.

Cohort groups created according to years of service meet throughout the year to address areas of need and to celebrate successes.

An evaluation performed by mentors, mentees, and the administration measures the effectiveness of the program. Adjustments are made for the next year’s program.

New Bulldogs cite the level of support and acceptance they receive as one of the most positive things about Millsap ISD. Our retention rate has increased each year since the program was implemented.

Don’t let students miss the joy of having the special people in their lives that they deserve. Seek out a strong program, be a mentor, or talk to someone in your district about creating a mentor program. The students are the winners every time.

Deann Lee has been the superintendent of Millsap ISD schools since August 2016. Previously, as assistant superintendent of MISD, Lee introduced a mentor program for teachers, fostered the development and use of instructional technology programs, and facilitated the strategic planning initiative at Millsap campuses.

Prior to working at MISD, Mrs. Lee served in Paris ISD for 23 years. There she held several positions, including special education supervisor and federal programs director. A tireless advocate for education, Lee served as the 2012-13 president of ATPE. Lee is active in numerous organizations and is politically involved as an advocate for public education.

Texans aren’t usually known for our way with words, but every now and then, our peculiar brand of rough-spun wisdom manages to perfectly communicate the spirit of the moment.

The first Texan to lead our nation, President Lyndon Baines Johnson, was a model case. Chatting with reporters on his ranch in 1964 about his goal of a strong Atlantic alliance, he quipped, “There are no problems which we cannot solve together, and there are very few which any of us can settle by himself.”

It was an elemental statement with resonance far beyond its original context, and it holds powerful meaning for us today.

Six weeks ago, Hurricane Harvey slammed into my hometown. The nation’s fourth-largest city endured a deluge of biblical proportions, submerging thousands of homes beneath churning black floodwaters. Faced with an existential crisis, Houstonians did what they always do.

Average folks loaded into bass boats, airboats, and jacked-up trucks with swamp tires and went door-to-door, hauling their neighbors to safety. First responders, elected officials, volunteers—even local news reporters—showed up to work while their own homes were underwater, saving countless lives in the process.

As a Houston expatriate living in Austin, I watched it all on live TV. And do you know what was funny?

Not once did any of the boat crews ask a shivering flood victim whether they were a Democrat or Republican before pulling them out of the soup. I can’t recall a single instance of someone asking whether an evacuee thought Colin Kaepernick should have kneeled before they were offered a meal and a blanket. And by golly if no one even checked who those victims voted for in the presidential election.

No, all I saw were Texans.

Americans.

Humans.

It’s sad that so often it takes a crisis to remind us of who we are. Yet Harvey reminded us. For a few fleeting days, we left the politics, the culture wars, and the inflamed rhetoric of cable news shows behind. Our hearts rose up from deep within our chests to remind us that they still beat for our brothers and sisters, and we extended our hands in peace and generosity.

It could have been a new beginning for all of us.

Yet it would seem our leaders prefer we go back to the old fights as quickly as possible. I covered politics for many years as a journalist, and my work as an advocate requires a keen understanding of political realities. I know that politicians have to get elected. Still, it’s difficult to watch as some, seeking to appeal to the extremes in one party or another, fight to return us, once again, to our separate, feuding camps.

Division is a distraction. Every angry post about the NFL is a distraction from the fact that the US faces the potential for nuclear conflict with North Korea, or the fact that 390,000 Texas children and pregnant women are about to lose insurance under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or the fact that retired Texas teachers could lose their homes thanks to skyrocketing healthcare premiums caused by chronic underfunding.

We face serious challenges as a state and as a nation, but it’s nothing that we can’t solve together. We can choose to amplify the love unleashed by Harvey, and look for what unites us with our brothers and sisters of different political persuasions—rather than what divides us. We can each ask of ourselves, “Am I contributing something positive or negative?”

At some point, leaders must lead. But we have a duty as well.

We can refuse to take the bait.

Mark Wiggins is a lobbyist for ATPE. Before coming to ATPE, Mark worked as a reporter at Austin’s ABC News affiliate, where he covered Texas politics for more than a dozen sister stations across the state. Follow him on Twitter (@MarkWigginsTX) for Texas education news and updates.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to fight for Texas public education. We’re 100,000 strong. Will you add your voice?

For more details on how ATPE supports Texas educators at the legislature, see our blog at TeachTheVote.org. For real-time updates from our lobby team, follow @teachthevote on Twitter.

]]>Thu, 12 Oct 2017 14:41:15 GMTd347f39f-55a6-4093-8acf-93ed361935b0

Did you know that if you recruit just ONE new ATPE member between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2017, you can receive a $10 Amazon or Starbucks gift card? That’s right—just one member gets you a $10 gift card!

But act now! Time is running out to win your gift card! The deadline for entries is Oct. 31, 2017!

Looking for a fresh recruitment idea? How about printing one of these two cute Halloween tags, attaching them to bags of candy or other small gifts, and passing them out to potential members or leaving them in the staff lounge?

To be eligible to receive your gift card, you MUST use ATPE’s official entry form. (Limit one gift card per recruiter.) Read our Each One, Reach One official guidelines for more info. For information on other recruitment incentives and challenges, visit atpe.org/Your-ATPE.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest and most trusted educator group.

]]>Tue, 10 Oct 2017 14:48:45 GMT5fe49711-a960-4109-b87c-0957d6afde25

ATPE members are the bedrock of our association, and it’s our volunteer leaders who solidify that foundation. ATPE volunteers help recruit new members, provide a valuable support network for current members, influence legislation, and represent our organization. Volunteers also help ensure educators are treated fairly on campuses across the state, and that Texas public school students receive the quality education they deserve.

ATPE is the largest educators’ association in Texas. That means your voice carries extra weight and that you can have an even greater impact in the classroom with students, on campus with your peers, throughout your district with other professional educators, and in your home communities across Texas. It also means ATPE can provide you with superior benefits, simply because our volunteers work hard to recruit and retain members (and there’s power in numbers!).

Are you wondering how you can make a difference in your profession? ATPE has members on almost every campus in the state, and we’re looking for more volunteers who are ready to lead. We’ll provide the training, resources, and networks to ensure you can truly make a difference in the lives of Texas educators and students.

Get involved with ATPE as a campus representative or as a local unit officer. You can also volunteer for ATPE state committee service. Campus reps can work in a district with or without an ATPE local unit, and they serve as the voice of ATPE on their campuses. If you’re in a district with a local unit, the ATPE officers help ensure that ATPE has a presence at the school district level by leading membership campaigns, conducting local unit elections, and advocating for public education at the district and state levels.

We couldn't do what we do without your help! It’s a great time to volunteer for the state's largest educator group—ATPE!

Getting started as an ATPE volunteer is easy. Simply contact Anna Belle Burleson, ATPE’s volunteer program coordinator, at volunteer@atpe.org to learn about opportunities in your district.

]]>Thu, 05 Oct 2017 15:33:53 GMT6c63bf9b-3df2-4b6a-a57e-7c5385923caa

Using Texas music during a language arts class can spur creative writing for today’s 21st-century, musically inclined generation. “We can use Texas music in the classroom for any number of reasons, as a gateway into the ‘serious’ works of literature, to deploy the critical reading of texts, or to explore themes related to places, identity, history, romantic love, morality, and memory,” says Jason Mellard of the Center for Texas Music History.

It is a well-known fact that music can be used for relaxation. In fact, the original instrumental music of Gary Lamb has been used successfully and enthusiastically around the world as an effective classroom tool. This music helps educators create a peaceful, relaxed environment—prime for learning and using long-term memory.

Music also helps build a creative classroom environment, which in turn helps make the brain more receptive to deeper critical thinking. Music also helps students write. It enhances creativity, encourages focus, keeps students in the mood to write, and promotes inspiration. Students in my classroom are both more creative and more attentive to their work when I have music on in the classroom.

Finding music to inspire the type of writing educators want their students to accomplish can pose challenges. For this purpose, pleasing instrumental music might not be the answer. Understanding which songs an educator needs for language arts assignments is as important as the assignment!

In language arts, writing exercises for figurative writing can be a challenge by itself, but an educator just needs to look closely at Texas songs their different genres to find a wealth of subject materials. Below are a few great Texas songs that will help get the creative juices flowing for our 21st-century learners:

The Dixie Chicks, “Travelin’ Soldier,” uses a rich amount of imagery and conflict and speaks to social issues.

Steve Earle, “Copperhead Road,” is a song with strong narrative that can be paired with “Travelin’ Soldier” by the Dixie Chicks.

The Flatlanders, “Dallas,” is a master showcase of metaphors, using the city of Dallas as a backdrop.

Waylon Jennings, “Bob Wills Is Still the King,” is a good song to help students think about context and tradition.

Willie Nelson, “Hello Walls,” presents a literary point of view in its anthropomorphic conversations with household objects, including the walls.

Willie Nelson, “Red-Headed Stranger,” provides a good lesson on teaching narrative. This song is about a fugitive on the run in the Old West.

Lydia Mendoza, “Mal Hombre,” offers a woman’s perspective on unfaithful men. While the song is in Spanish, it can be easily translated.

Pedro Rocha and Lupe Martinez, “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez,” is a prime example of a “corrido”—a border ballad that interprets a historical event, allowing students to think of the narrative through different points of view.

For more information about Texas music, visit the Center for Texas Music History, which maintains a range of online resources for educators, including digital access to copies of the annual Journal of Texas Music History.

Hector Cruz has been teaching for 29 years. He is an English IV teacher at Weslaco High School and is a member of the ATPE Board of Directors, representing Region 1.

Screens full of status updates, links, and news. A thumb that constantly scrolls through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media apps. Social media outlets allow a user to easily interact with others, lurk to gather information, and quickly share content.

In this digital age, when our students are suffering from information overload, information literacy is one of the most important skills they can have. With the internet being endless and information abundant, where can educators even begin a lesson to help students or other teachers address information literacy?

Here are three ways to double check a website.

Three Ways to Spot Check a Website

Is the website from a reliable resource? What does it end with? During this conversation, point out that .edu (educational institutions) and .gov (government) are usually reliable resources. In general, .org sites (originally intended for nonprofits but anyone can register) are more reliable than .com or .net sites.

Are there a lot of ads on the website? Remind students it is OK to have ads on a website, but those ads are paid for by advertisers. Points to consider: Is it an overload of advertisements? Could this be just a clickbait news story to get more hits on the website?

Are there other visual cues? Does the website look professional? (Does it use proper grammar and capitalization, or does it use all capital letters? Is the website clean, put together, and easy to read?) Real news can come from websites that are not organized, but take a few extra minutes to check the sources.

Other things to think about when checking websites and information:

Who is the author/producer/creator of the message?

Who is the audience?

What techniques are being used to get our attention and make a message believable?

Who benefits from a message?

Who or what is omitted, and why?

Teaching students these easy website evaluation techniques will help them learn to pause before sharing or publishing online. The other piece of information literacy is understanding how to use and share information.

Two Ways to Decide Whether to Share

Will this information help others? Encourage students to consider whether there is a benefit in sharing the information.

Will this information be seen as inappropriate? The internet has a plethora of news stories that are not fake news, but they may still not be appropriate to share through social media. Explain to students that when they share any information, whether it be a true or fake news story, their digital footprint is created. These digital footprints can be used by future employers.

Giving students techniques that will help them pause and evaluate websites and information combats the spread of fake or biased news. And it helps us meet our main goal as educators—to help students become contributing members of society—both offline and online.

Andrea Keller is librarian who spends every waking moment encouraging the youth of today. She spent 12 years in the special education world as a self-contained LIFE (learning in a functional environment) teacher, where she pushed her low-verbal and non-verbal students to new heights using various forms of technology. She was named Texas Computer Education Agency Classroom Teacher of the Year in 2011-2012 school year. She was also named one of the 20 Educators to Watch by the National School Board Association. Andrea has also been recognized by both the local Irving, Region 10, and the state Association of Texas Professional Educators as classroom teacher of the year, and she was named Elliott Teacher of the Year. Before becoming a librarian, Andrea was an instructional technology specialist who trained teachers in using technology to increase instruction. Although Andrea spends countless hours at school preparing for the hundreds of students that visit the library weekly, she also spends time outside of school working in the community. Andrea is a team manager for Destination ImagiNation, where she leads students into a world of unlimited possibilities. She is also a troop leader for a group of Brownie Girl Scouts, is involved in the Elliott PTA, and is also the Irving ATPE past president.

The last day to join ATPE without a 30-day wait for employment rights defense coverage is coming soon. Join today!

Educators eligible for membership from August through September who join after Sept. 30 (Sept. 29 if joining online) will have to wait 30 days until their employment rights defense insurance is effective.

You don’t have to do anything wrong to need an attorney. And, unfortunately, bad things happen to good educators every day. When just one false accusation can end a stellar career, it’s important to have ATPE in your corner. So, please encourage your fellow colleagues to join or renew TODAY so they can avoid the wait!

Don’t forget--through our Each One, Reach One program, you can receive a $10 Amazon or Starbucks gift card just for recruiting one member!

First-time professional members can join for just $125 through Oct. 31, 2017.

Join ATPE online by Friday, Sept. 29, to make sure you don’t have to wait for your employment rights benefits.

*Exclusions, terms, and conditions apply. Visit www.atpe.org/protection for more information and to view the details of the insurance policy.

]]>Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:40:21 GMTaaabc393-5b45-4c98-8e14-149b175fa41e

One of the best ways for ATPE members to save money is by using ATPE’s services and discounts! Through ATPE’s online mall, you can earn cash back by shopping at your favorite stores—Kohl’s, Target, Nordstrom, Zappos, Sephora, and more!

We did some research to find out what other stores offer discounts for Texas teachers, and our collected list is below. Happy shopping!

In addition, ATPE members can save tons on school supplies, insurance, car rentals, hotels, and more! Log in to your ATPE account and visit the services and discounts page at atpe.org for more information.

]]>Thu, 21 Sep 2017 14:25:48 GMT0f431b98-02da-473d-9607-6234257554b2

If you have been thinking about exploring project-based learning (PBL) but are unsure of where to start, here are seven steps you can take in your current classroom before jumping in.

1. Develop a growth mindset.

Carol Dweck has cornered the market on the idea of “growth mindset” connected to lifelong learning. Start with her TedTalk and on the concept of growth mindset. The general idea is we can all be good at math or piano if we have the right mindset. We just might not be there yet. Growth mindset is an important first step in the PBL journey for both teachers and students because PBL is a process that you and your students grow into. We are creating great problem solvers, not just good test takers.

2. Know your standards.

With PBL, we strive to make connections to real-world problems. As you walk through the real world every day, it helps to know how your standards are grouped so you that can make connections. Coleman Marshall, a middle school teacher in Lexington, Kentucky, made a connection to his US history class while watching Good Morning America. Because Coleman knows his standards well, he connected a story concerning city flags to his class, and by the end of the project, his students were in front of the Lexington City Council proposing a new city flag. By the way, Lexington did adopt a new flag thanks to his students’ presentations.

3. Listen to your students.

PBL isn’t about handing the helm over to students and letting the ship run into the rocks. It’s about empowering students by asking for feedback and giving them choices. An easy entry point is to ask students how your last unit went. Ask them to give you “likes” and “wonders.” Act on their wonders in your next unit. When students see that you are listening, they will be empowered to be involved and engaged. As a side benefit, you get feedback to improve your practice.

4. Invite a community partner.

At Magnify Learning, we believe authenticity turns apathy into aspiration! A project with community partners can bring students to life. Bringing in an outside expert adds a sense of reality to a project that we as educators can’t replicate. You get to see your learners 180+ days a year, which is great for building relationships, but a community partner adds a unique measure of engagement and authenticity to a project. A community partner is likely closer than you think. One of our facilitators found a law enforcement partner in line at McDonalds! People are happy to give their time, and it can revolutionize your classroom environment.

5. Provide differentiated workshops.

Workshops might be a stretch if you haven’t totally adopted PBL, but they are such a valuable practice to personalize learning. In PBL, it helps to have the larger overarching project for students to work on while you are holding smaller workshops. Otherwise, differentiation can be tricky. What else are your students doing while you are holding smaller workshops? If 40 percent of your students bomb their quiz, what do you do? Review with everyone? Move on and hope they catch up? One of the strengths of PBL is the ability to differentiate and personalize the learning. For example, while the 40 percent of students who bombed your compound sentence quiz are reviewing with you, the other 60 percent have the long-term goal of completing their project to keep them engaged. If you haven’t converted to PBL yet, have someone co-teach with you, so you can hold a workshop.

6. Attend professional development.

Since the Industrial Revolution, we have been teaching in rows. Changing your practice isn’t easy. Read blogs, visit a PBL school, and then sign up for training. Find a training that mirrors the PBL process, so you can feel the different flow of learning. We like to utilize current PBL teachers as trainers so that you can ask the boots-on-the-ground questions of how it works in actual classrooms with real kids.

7. Jump in.

After you try some of these steps in your current classroom and get some training, you need to make the leap. We find PBL gets teachers back to their sweet spot. You got into education because you want to show kids the possibilities in the world. Nobody gets into teaching because they want to move test scores. Try PBL because you believe teaching makes a difference in the lives of your students. It’s not the easiest road to relearn school, but it is worth it!

Ryan Steuer is the executive director of Magnify Learning, a nonprofit PBL professional learning organization. Magnify Learning utilizes PBL teachers from the classroom to customize PBL trainings around the country. Ryan Steuer speaks and writes with the goal of helping educators find their sweet spots. Ryan started his career as an industrial engineer, made the switch to eighth-grade English, and created a PBL school within a school in Indianapolis.

Attention, new teachers! Do you have dreams of turning your new classroom into a bright, welcoming space for students? Now that you’ve graduated to a full-fledged teacher with a space of your own, it’s time to decorate your classroom!

ATPE has some good news: 2016-17 student teachers who renew as first-time professional members for the 2017-18 membership year will be entered into a drawing for $500. Two winners will be drawn in early November.

Not a new teacher? Don’t fret! You can win, too. We’ll pick another $500 winner from our renewing professional or first-time professional members as well. (2016-17 first-time professional members must renew in 2017-18 as professional members.)

Combine the winnings with our membership discounts and make the $500 go even further. Office supplies and furniture can be as much as 80 percent off when you shop at OfficeMax or Office Depot. Revamp your classroom into the space you and your students deserve.

Learn more about how ATPE can help you save money. Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the state’s largest educator group.

]]>Fri, 15 Sep 2017 17:14:00 GMT7f83d5b7-6c13-41c4-8a58-4b8840dda06d

Great movements start with small conversations among like-minded individuals.

One day, leaning over a church pew, Sherry Wiggins, Carolyn King, and I expressed outrage over impending legislative changes to TRS-Care insurance. Out-of-pocket costs of $3,000 before insurance combined with limited prescription coverage meant monthly pensions ($1,675-$2,000 on average) wouldn’t suffice. This news, combined with learning that Texas had not had a cost-of-living increase for retirees in 16 years, made us ask, “How did this happen to retired school personnel?”

Sherry said we needed a rally, so she contacted the courthouse to arrange a day. I started a private Facebook group and invited educators, both retired and active, to be a part of the group. I asked for their email addresses, promising that emails would convey only pertinent information regarding legislative bills about insurance, salaries, payroll deduction, or vouchers. Tim Lee with the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) provided us information to discern rumor from fact.

We invited everyone in the Facebook group to a meeting at a local restaurant and asked Ginger Franks, ATPE regional representative, to speak about lobbying. After she spoke, several of us even joined ATPE online! The meeting’s 13 attendees formed the Coalition of Retired Educators (CORE) group, our main priority being to get teachers actively involved with the issues facing us. The group helped organize a rally at the Nacogdoches Courthouse on June 29. Money collected from the group helped buy supplies to make rally signs. The group decided to wear red to show unity among all school personnel.

One of our members, Betsy Bryan, wrote a letter to the local newspaper, The Daily Sentinel, to help the community understand the purpose of the rally. TV news stations were asked to cover the rally, and the stations actually interviewed some participants and used segments of the rally during evening news. Fliers were made and distributed through emails and social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). Teachers encouraged other teachers in neighboring towns to join us in the rally. Finally, participant Stacey Meador created a shirt design to further show unification at the rally.

We also contacted our politicians. Representative Travis Clardy then asked to meet with me and CORE members Sherry Wiggins, Claudia Whitley, Donna Christopher, and Katherine Whitbeck prior to the rally to hear our concerns. Senator Robert Nichols attended the rally and spoke about the issues. We had some parents who joined the rally line on the sidewalk. We took pictures of the rally and posted them all over social media.

The local paper followed up with several articles about the rally, and the public started to ask us questions. Suzanne Bardwell, a retired educator and co-publisher for the Gladewater Mirror, asked to be part of the email group and contacted us about organizing a rally; we offered suggestions about preparing and conducting one. The CORE group hoped that the rallies would spread across the state. Members of Nacogdoches CORE attended both the pro-education rally at the Gregg County Courthouse in Longview and the Texans for Public Education Rally in Austin.

We continue to share information via the Facebook group and keep each other informed. Our group encourages members to call and write emails to the governor, lieutenant governor, and other Texas politicians. We hope that Texas teachers, both retired and active, continue to contact legislators about important education issues. Texas educators want to see their legislators putting Texas students first by using the Rainy Day Fund to help increase funding for public schools and to stabilize insurance for active and retired school personnel. Educators want legislators to stop discussing rolling a healthy and stable TRS into a 401(k), which devastates pensions (just ask Texas firefighters and Enron employees); to kill vouchers; to raise teacher salaries; to stop trying to silence us through halting payroll deductions; and to reduce state testing to match federal guidelines.

Texas school employees are the largest profession in the state; therefore, we are the largest voting bloc. If current Texas politicians will not fight for us, we will vote them OUT and vote in politicians who care about education! The Sleeping Giant Is Awake!

Latricia Jacobs obtained her master’s in administration and superintendency from SFASU. She has taught grades 6th-7th and 9th-12th in the areas of science and English. She has served as Librarian, JH Principal, High School Principal, Special Services Director, and Director of Curriculum and Federal Programs. She recently retired from Woden ISD after 31 years in education. This fall she will work for SFASU serving as an adjunct Supervisor for Student Teachers. She has been married to Larry Jacobs for 29 years, and they have one son, Lane, a supervisor for Cal-Maine Foods and a daughter, Lindsey, who is in her 2nd year of teaching 4th grade at Hudson ISD.

The Fall 2017 edition of our award-winning magazine is now available online now.

In this issue:

Discover six exciting field trip destinations across the state

Get to know education leader and speaker Dr. Adolph Brown

ATPE members share their top tips for connecting with parents

Learn about a new law that affects Texas educators

How ATPE members can make an impact in the next election

ATPE member Tracy Eggers talks about the effects of standardized testing

Get the lowdown on the 2017 ATPE Summit

Meet your 2017-18 ATPE leaders

As always, you will also see what other ATPE members have been up to and learn about ways the association is continuing its mission of making a difference in the lives Texas educators and students!

Our Brain Break this issue features a spot-the-difference photo. Check your answers, and email your completed photo to contest@atpe.org by Sept. 29 for a chance to win an ATPE-branded prize!

Not an ATPE member? Join the state’s top professional educators’ organization today.

]]>Fri, 08 Sep 2017 20:37:30 GMT15bbd599-6062-4d3d-9daa-457a830b1d98

At Colonial Hills Elementary, we set a goal to ensure that all children have access to a healthy school environment where they can learn and flourish. We hoped that the children would use their gained knowledge in future endeavors.

But positive changes take time. If your school wants to become a “healthy school,” you need to be patient, and you need to get the entire school community involved. Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Here’s a breakdown of what our school did to achieve healthy school status.

1. Make sure the community is behind you.

We first took a survey to find out if our school community was interested in our goal. We surveyed parents, teachers, students, and other community partners. We received an overwhelmingly positive response.

2. Organize and create a plan.

For us, that meant establishing two committees. The first committee, the Wellness/Garden Committee, had a representative from every grade level, a nurse, nutrition personnel, an administrator, parents, and community partners. Through this committee, we decided we needed to include students if we really wanted involvement from the entire school community. So, we created the second committee, the Legacy Kids School Health Advisory Council (KSHAC)—a council of 12 third to fifth graders that met three to four times a month to develop their own ideas on ways to promote health and wellness through actions on campus. Our Legacy KSHAC acted as leaders by being the voice for the student body as it relates to health and wellness. These students helped organize and maintain the school community garden, participated in fitness and health morning announcements, and assisted with the annual health fair and family fitness nights.

3. Search for organizations to partner with.

Next, we got involved with several free health and fitness organizations, such as Fuel Up to Play 60; San Antonio Mayor’s Fitness Council; Action for Healthy Kids; Active Schools; Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance; and Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart. These types of organizations are filled with resources to start a journey toward a healthy school.

One particular program stood out for us: The Alliance for a Healthier Generation. This entity complimented the other programs, essentially tying all of the others together. They offered the Healthy Schools Program, which uses the School Health Index (SHI) as its assessment tool. The SHI helps you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your school’s policies and programs for promoting health and safety. You can then develop an action plan for improving school health and safety. There are many tools you can use, such as the Smart Food Planner, the Virtual Training Center, and a resource database that includes videos, printable worksheets, websites, and curricula to help make healthy changes at your school and in out-of-school settings.

4. Implement the changes.

While increasing the minutes in physical education from 135 to 150 a week was significant, the most impactful change our school made involved healthy meals, snacks, and beverages.

We sent a letter home to parents and then posted on our school website (on the main page, parent section, and student section), stating Colonial Hills Elementary School is a “healthy school”: “We care about your student’s health, nutrition, and wellness. We do not include food items in ANY of our fundraisers during and outside school hours. Any snacks or beverages served at school must meet the Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards. We are allowed two exemptions per school year. At Colonial Hills, our two exemption days are designated as the day before Winter Break and the last day of school. We love birthday celebrations ... however, ... please do not bring cupcakes, candy, or cake for your student’s celebration. Fruit and party favors like pencils or stickers are a great alternative for celebrating.”

Another effective change our school made was ensuring all foods served and sold to staff at staff meetings, school-sponsored staff events, and in the staff lounge also met the Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.

Additionally, we created a school garden. We believe that our garden has had a direct impact in many areas of wellness, nutrition, and student confidence. Our students are more than test scores. Our community garden has increased our students’ confidence and self-esteem. The garden has brought our campus together and allowed our community and stakeholders to be a part of our school. It has always been our intent to create lasting habits that will carry our students through school and beyond.

The impact of our healthy school success has been remarkable. When schools actively involve parents and engage community resources, they are able to respond more effectively to the health-related needs of students. Family, school, and community involvement foster partnerships. These partnerships result in sharing and maximizing resources. In addition, they help the youth develop healthy behaviors and promote healthy families.

As a result of this great collaboration, our school has been recognized nationally. We received Gold status by the Alliance of Healthier Generation. In 2016-17, only 10 schools in the nation earned this distinction. We exceeded in all six areas: (1) School Health and Safety Policies and Environment, (2) Health Education, (3) Physical Education and other Physical Activity Programs, (4) Nutrition Services, (5) Health Promotions for Staff, and (6) Family and Community Involvement.

Terri Pitts has been teaching elementary physical education/health for 14 years. She received her bachelor’s in kinesiology from the University of Texas San Antonio and her master’s in education administration from Lamar University. She was the 2010 Judson ISD Educator of the Year, the 2014 Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Elementary P.E. Teacher of the Year, the 2015 Trinity Prize (Excellence in Education) Teacher for her campus, and a finalist for ATPE Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2014 and 2015.

Pitts has been a part of the San Antonio Mayor’s Fitness Council since its initiation in 2010. She has been recognized by the American Heart Association for her dedication to health and fitness. She enjoys teaching P.E./Health, and she is a lifelong student. She not only teaches but is constantly taking classes to improve herself. One of her favorite quotes is “Who dares to teach, must never cease to learn” by John Cotton Dana.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the state’s most trusted educator group.

]]>Tue, 05 Sep 2017 16:13:00 GMT90d5be44-cb59-4879-afe1-f8219b923cdc

A few weeks ago, as I was dropping off donations, I encountered a kind man who helped me put the donations in the nonprofit’s truck.

Turning to leave, I asked him for a tax form and he produced one from his back pocket.

“How efficient!” I said.

“I’ve always said efficiency is a good part of being lazy,” he responded with a twinkle in his eye. I took in the wisdom of his words.

In my classroom, I constantly look for ways to be more efficient. As students ask the same question on an assignment, I update the instructions on the e-copy so that, next year, I will address the confusion at the beginning of the project.

The start of a new year is a great time to build more efficiency into your classroom. Consider the following:

What procedures can you put into place to minimize confusion?

What tasks can you assign to a student leader?

How can technology help decrease the time you spend grading?

Have a wonderful school year!

Allison Venuto is an educator with 12 years of experience in the Dallas area and is the owner of Ducks in a Row Personal Organizing. You can contact her at Allison@DucksInARowDallas.com.

Like what you read? Make sure you never miss a post by following us on Bloglovin’.

ATPE thanks all of our 2016-17 Political Action Committee honorees. These members’ donations to ATPE-PAC help ensure that we can continue to financially assist pro-public education candidates to the legislature and State Board of Education. Thank you for all you do to help ATPE fight for quality educational standards and protect your professional interests!

William B. Travis ATPE-PAC Honorees

These members donated $150 or more to ATPE-PAC between May 1, 2015, and July 31, 2016.

Elizabeth Abrahams

Jennifer Adams

Ninfa Aguirre

Teresa Akers

Charlotte Anthony

Stephanie Bailey

Wanda Bailey

Stephanie Baker

Ranelle Baldwin

Caryn Bartle

Gidget Belinoski-Bailey

Betty Berndt

Nelson Bishop

Jerry Bonham

Rebecca Bottin

Julleen Bottoms

Sherry Boyd

Brenda Bryan

Yolanda Capetillo

Dana Carroll

Bickie Coffey

Merry Creager

Nora Crist

Hector Cruz

Carol Davies

Kristi Daws

OnaBeth Day

David de la Garza

Kristina Deason

Kiersten Diamond

Suellen Ener

Jeannie Evans

Madonna Felan

Twila Figueroa

Ron Fitzwater

Jason Forbis

Ginger Franks

Michele Garner

Jose Garza

Cesarea Germain

Debbie Graham

Tonja Gray

Syed Haider

Karen Hames

Evelyn Hardaman

Tina Hardarson

Margie Hastings

Byron Hildebrand

Eddie Hill

Gerry Hudman

MaElena Ingram

Phyllis Jarzombek

Chana Jones

Darlene Kelly

Connie Kilday

Kristin Kilday

Kim Kriegel

Janie Leath

Becky LeBreton

Deann Lee

Jimmy Lee

Julia Lepek

Bridget Loffler

Dale Lovett

Benjamin Lozano

Miranda Madden

Meredith Malloy

Katy Matthews

Betty McCoy

Gina F. McNeely

Marcy McNeil

Randi McQueen

Teresa Millard

Lola Miller

Yvette Milner

Keri Minier

Samantha Montano

Bill Monty

Chris Moralez

Nanette Moyers

Shawn Mustain

Teri Nail

Diane Nix

Lynn Nutt

Bobbye Patton

Annie Perez

Betty Plunkett

Steve Pokluda

Jacquline Price

Doris Ratenski

Jed Reed

Patty Reneau

Julie Riggs

Dawn Riley

Eli Rodriguez

Genie Rolfe

Nelly Rosales-Nino

Olga Rubio

Barbara Ruiz

Gayle Sampley

Gary Schepf

Dennise Schuler

Jayne Serna

Dwight Smith

Lori Smith

Toni Smith

Becky Spurlock

Michael Sweet

Jane Sykes

Judi Thomas

Charlotte Tilotta

Nancy Tom

Floyd Trimble

Norma Vega

Greg Vidal

Nichole Waggoner

Eileen Walcik

Melissa Walcik

Ron Walcik

Kelley Walker

Donna Ward

Katherine Whitbeck

Shane Whitten

Richard Wiggins

David Williams

Ranti Williams

Jeri Willis

Belinda Wolf

Mary Beth Woodall

Kay Young

Stephen F. Austin ATPE-PAC Honorees

The members below have contributed the following cumulative amounts to ATPE-PAC since July 1997.

$500

Charlotte Anthony

Mary Betke

Rebecca Bottin

Brenda Bryan

Alafair Hammett

Dale Lovett

Katy Matthews

Gina F. McNeely

Daisy Palomo

Annie Perez

Betty Plunkett

Julie Riggs

Dawn Riley

Dwight Smith

Kitty Smith

Cathy Stolle

Floyd Trimble

Kelley Walker

Belinda Wolf

Kay Young

$1,500

Shari Emmons

Suellen Ener

Ron Fitzwater

Jason Forbis

Karen Hames

Margie Hastings

MaElena Ingram

Deann Lee

Debbie Massey

Bill Monty

Diane Pokluda

Judi Thomas

$2,500

Betty Berndt

Jerry Bonham

Syed Haider

Tina Hardarson

Sharon Phares

Jayne Serna

$7,500

Bickie Coffey

Twila Figueroa

Davy Crockett Fundraising Challenge

This challenge was established to recognize the regions and local units that raise the most money per member for ATPE-PAC.

Regions with 10,001 or more members

Region 10

Regions with 10,000 or fewer members

Region 20

Local units with 501+ members

Cypress-Fairbanks ATPE

Local units with 201–500 members

McAllen ATPE

Local units with 1–200 members

Woden ATPE

ATPE-PAC Hall of Fame

This award is bestowed to those members who have donated $10,000 dollars or more to ATPE-PAC since July 1997.

Richard Wiggins

ATPE-PAC Statesman Award

The ATPE-PAC Statesman Award honors ATPE members who have donated $20 or more to the ATPE-PAC for 12 consecutive months.

Stephanie Bailey

Betty Berndt

Julleen Bottoms

Hector Cruz

Tonja Gray

Tina Hardarson

Margie Hastings

Connie Kilday

Steve Pokluda

Eli Rodriguez

Jayne Serna

Richard Wiggins

Our members’ voluntary donations to ATPE-PAC are used to make bipartisan contributions to officeholders/candidates who have demonstrated support for public education and ATPE philosophies. A donation to ATPE-PAC is an investment in Texas public schools and their students. Donate to ATPE-PAC today.

ATPE-PAC solicits contributions only from ATPE members, employees, and their families. Participation in ATPE-PAC is voluntary. Members can contribute any amount or nothing at all without affecting their ATPE membership status, rights, or benefits.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to fight for Texas public education. We’re 100,000 strong. Will you add your voice?

]]>Wed, 30 Aug 2017 18:10:42 GMTaff009b5-695b-4d3b-bcf6-fbb3ad84f12e

We’ve all been watching the heartbreaking news unfold in communities from Rockport to Houston. Many ATPE members have been personally affected by the storms. Others have contacted the state office to asking how you can best help your fellow educators in need. ATPE members have such generous spirits.

Any time we make a donation, we all want to ensure:

That those affected by the disaster are getting the goods and services they need most; and

That the financial assistance is sent to the communities where the need is the greatest.

With this in mind, ATPE strongly encourages you to donate to a reputable charity with a strong track record of assisting Texans during a disaster. For your convenience, here are links to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. You can also research other charities by visiting Guidestar.

If you're wondering about donating household items and clothing, first check out this 2013 article from NPR. Responders often call donations of goods the "disaster after the disaster," and the NPR piece offers a good explanation for this.

Please keep the ATPE family members affected by Hurricane Harvey in your thoughts and prayers.

]]>Tue, 29 Aug 2017 13:34:47 GMT419f3c24-ad22-483c-a6e2-f75796af86e2

The proof is in the receipts! Stock up on school supplies and take advantage of the savings your ATPE membership provides! We’re talking about discounts of up to 80 percent on more than 93,000 products at Office Depot and OfficeMax.

You can avoid the crowds by shopping online at http://www.officediscounts.org/atpe. Online orders over $50 get you free next-day delivery. But if you still love shopping in store with the smell of back-to-school supplies in the air, make sure you print out your FREE Store Purchasing Card ahead of time.

Looking for an even bigger selection of items? Our online shopping mall, Azigo, allows members to earn cash back by shopping at some of the most well-known stores like Target, Kohl’s, and Best Buy. So, pencil in some time, sharpen those bargain-hunting skills, and make the most of your membership discounts. We know the start of a new school year can be stressful, but ATPE is here to help you chalk up another successful year.

Not a member? Join ATPE today to become part of the largest and most trusted educator group in Texas. Members can more than recoup the cost of their dues by using their ATPE discounts!

]]>Thu, 24 Aug 2017 16:08:04 GMT1fab059d-5664-447a-a8fe-07520b63e33c

So, you’re a first-time Texas teacher with a brand-new batch of students staring you in the face. It can be dizzying to think about getting through this first semester in the classroom. For starters, take a breath and feel proud that you’ve chosen one of the most important professions in the world! Texas is lucky to have you and so are your students.

As one way to help you tackle those nervous butterflies, ATPE has put together a few tips to help you manage the school year. This list is adapted from our “Your First Classroom” guide, available for download here.

Before Your First Day
From reading up on professional ethical standards to decorating your classroom, here are a few things you can do ahead of your first day.

• Familiarize yourself with policies.
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) has two complementary bodies of rules, the Educators’ Code of Ethics and its own disciplinary rules. Additionally, you should read your district’s employee handbook and know various district and campus policies, such as arrival and dismissal times, emergency drills, and student attendance. Finally, because many TEKS and student assessments are now integrated into overall campus goals and lesson plans, you want to ensure your teaching goals align with the campus’s performance goals. Check in with a curriculum director or a coordinator for guidance.

• Introduce yourself to colleagues and parents.
The first year of anything is always going to be bumpy, but building relationships with fellow educators can provide some of the support you need. Whether it’s a mentor, grade-level coordinator, the principal, or another teacher on campus, forming a bond with your colleagues gives you a chance to discuss strategies, achievements, and challenges with people who’ve been there. When it comes to introducing yourself to parents, consider writing an introductory letter for your students to take home that includes contact information, conference hours, and a list of required materials for class.

• Keep the classroom fresh.
This is the fun part! Put up some snazzy bulletin boards to convey information, inspirational quotes, or student success stories. Use a theme to add some artistic flair. Stock up on any extra classroom materials you may need during the year, like tissues, cleaning supplies, and extra writing implements—don’t forget to check out our Services and Discounts page at atpe.org to see how members can save! Check to see if your school already has some supplies available as well. Other ways to keep the classroom interesting include experimenting with how you want the seating arranged, creating a reading or activity area, and setting up storage.

• Double check your procedures.
Post general rules in your room, but understand that routines take time to settle into. The rules should guide students in how you want each class to start and end; how materials will be doled out and handed in; and general guidelines about how equipment, technology, and supplies will be used.

• Basic need-to-knows.
There are a lot of unknowns during those first few days, so do your part to quiet those unknowns by explaining such things like where lunches, backpacks, etc., can be stored; pointing out special areas; and going over course requirements, grading procedures, and classroom rules. Before class ends, go over any homework that needs to be completed and discuss campus dismissal procedures. Most of all, end the day on a positive note!

• General classroom management ideas.
One way to make classroom rules resonate with students is to get them involved in the rule-making process. Ask students to come up with rules as a group and display them in the classroom. Each day, write general instructions and objectives on the board. Teach students how to pay attention, follow directions, and ask for help.

Your first year of teaching only happens once, and it may be far from perfect. But you can feel confident and prepared if you take the right steps! How you handle your first few weeks will be reflected in how your students handle it, too. To view the “Your First Classroom” guide in its entirety and get more tips on such things like communicating with parents, preparing for a substitute, and professional responsibilities, visit our Resources page on atpe.org.

Best of luck during this new school year! ATPE is here for you.

Not a member? Join ATPE today to become part of the largest and most trusted educators’ group in Texas. ATPE offers liability insurance and employment rights defense coverage for educators as well as professional development opportunities.

]]>Wed, 23 Aug 2017 15:07:00 GMT0be0f314-e21f-4065-ad61-930dc88bd1fe

“I’ve got big shoes to fill.”

This is what I think of as I anticipate this coming school year. I look back on those who have inspired me throughout the process of becoming an educator. I count in my head all the qualities I’m thankful for because of these people. I wonder where I’d be without the leadership, motivation, and self-confidence they instilled in me. I’m encouraged by the fact that if I am just half as good at teaching as they are, I’ll be ready to take on anything. Knowing the influence my role models have had on me is how I’m able to take a breath and plan for the 182 days ahead of me.

Three months ago, being an educator was not my plan. I was set to attend graduate school at Texas A&M for educational policy analysis. I wanted to fight for educators, not be one. When my husband found employment in a small town in West Texas, my plans changed.

It’s funny how if the classroom wants you, it gets you.

I interviewed for a fifth-grade social studies position in a 3A district with 87 percent poverty. The interview was sudden and unexpected, made by a connection my husband had through the school board. I had little time to prepare, especially since teaching wasn’t even on my radar at the time. I spent what few days I had reaching out to other educators I knew. I asked them what kinds of questions I should expect, what to bring with me, and how to keep my freaking out to a minimum. I was in awe of their eagerness to extend a helping hand and their tips on staying sane. Never underestimate the power of asking those who’ve come before you.

When it came time to interview, I walked into a room filled with eight people who were ready to drill me with questions—all four school principals, the special education coordinator, a coach, and two people from HR. Surprisingly, I was met with smiles, ease, and genuine care from every one of them. They were engaged in what I was saying—truly listening. It felt like my words were the most intriguing things they had ever heard. It helped calm my nerves.

Some questions were easy. “Use five words to describe yourself.” “Why do you want to be a teacher?” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” Others were more difficult. “What would you do in this situation?” “How could you improve our school?” “What kind of teacher do you want to be?” While some were tougher than others, I had anticipated each one. That is until they asked me the last question.

“We have interviewed a number of other applicants. What makes you better than them?”

As I look back on this question, I wonder why it took me by surprise as much as it did. It is a logical and thoughtful question that any employer would want to know the answer to. I said nothing at first. The only thing that came to my mind was that I love teaching, but that seemed so remedial and cliché. Why couldn’t I think of something better?

A minute or so passed by, though it felt much longer, and I finally realized that the only thing that had come to my mind was the perfect answer. So, I began explaining what teaching meant to me. I spoke about the mentors I have in my life. I explained their love for lifelong learning, their passion for youth, and their readiness to lead. I poured out how there is nothing I wish more than to take after my role models. I painted a picture of how I wanted to make a difference in my students’ lives, just as my role models had done for me. I poured out my heart.

Anyone can tell an interviewer about themselves. Anyone can offer insight into how a situation should be handled or a problem solved. It’s the questions that elicit passionate responses that matter the most. I’m convinced my answer got me the job.

Aug. 21 was daunting. I used to wonder how I would feel when the first day of school got this close. I am thankful to be able to say that while there is a nervousness lurking in the back of my mind, I am overjoyed to finally fill my room with students and eager to make those who have paved this way for me proud.

I won’t let you down.

Sarah McCaslin recently graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. She is a first-year teacher at Mary Deshazo Elementary in Muleshoe, TX.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to take advantage of ATPE’s professional development opportunities for teachers, principals, and paraeducators.

]]>Tue, 22 Aug 2017 14:50:15 GMTd3149631-3649-4a35-9061-77809cb13937

Television commercials are full of sales on kids’ clothes. High school marching bands are starting morning practice. It’s starting to look a lot like the new school year is around the corner.

Another thing that sometimes comes with the new year is a new assignment. Sometimes the change to a new grade or new campus is at the request of the educator, but other times, it comes as a rude shock.

If you get reassigned, you may be wondering if your district is allowed to reassign you without your consent. It may seem unfair, but the answer is yes.

Nearly all teacher and administrator contracts include a paragraph allowing the district to reassign the educator at the district’s discretion as long as the new assignment also falls within the “professional capacity” stated in the contract. The “professional capacity” is found at the very beginning of the contract, usually stated as “Classroom Teacher” or “Administrator,” or something similarly broad. This often gives districts broad discretion to change assignments. Districts have even broader ability to reassign non-contract staff as there is no general restriction on job assignments.

Is there anything you can do if you feel you’ve been unfairly reassigned? Maybe. While the general rule is that reassignments are permitted, it is also true that individual circumstances sometimes create an exception. For example, generally a teacher cannot be reassigned outside of his or her certification area. A paraprofessional generally should not be reassigned to a position that he or she cannot perform due to a disability.

If you are an eligible ATPE member who has been notified that you have been reassigned and want to know more, you can contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department by calling our toll-free number, 1-800-777-2873 (ATPE) between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Or you may use our confidential, electronic submission system. Read more about reassignments in ATPE’s online Legal Guide.

Gov. Greg Abbott’s controversial special session has ended with a win for educators. ATPE is proud of our members who engaged their legislators and spoke out against the anti-public education rhetoric and bullying! ATPE staff invested literally thousands of hours fighting for you, and it was time well spent.

The session included multiple attacks on public schools, including vouchers, bills to take away educators’ right to use payroll deductions for their voluntary association dues, and threats against local control. All three ideas were favored by Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick but staunchly opposed by ATPE.

Here’s how ATPE worked for YOU:

School Funding—The legislature granted Gov. Abbott’s request for a commission to study school finance over the next two years, and ATPE looks forward to sharing our recommendations with that new entity. As in the regular session, ATPE supported the House effort led by Chairman Dan Huberty to pass a comprehensive school finance reform bill that would inject $1.8 billion in new funds for public education and use the state’s rainy day funds to address immediate hardships. The Senate would only support a stripped-down version, borrowing Medicaid money for a short-term addition of $563 million that includes $212 million for TRS-Care. As the special session came to a close on Tuesday evening, the Texas House of Representatives reluctantly voted to accept the Senate’s version of the bill.

“House Bill 21 is an imperfect bill, but we appreciate that it will provide some needed short-term relief for schools, students, and educators facing hardships,” said ATPE Governmental Relations Director Jennifer Canaday. “The bill will help a number of districts avoid a severe and imminent loss of resources under expiring funding mechanisms, and it will inject a modest amount of additional money into programs to help students with special needs such as autism and dyslexia.”

Educator Pay and Benefits—In June, Gov. Abbott announced his call for a special session with an instruction for lawmakers to pass a teacher pay raise, but he explained his expectation that school districts should find money in their own existing budgets to pay for it. Lt. Gov. Patrick similarly proposed a pay raise plan that would merely re-allocate a portion of state lottery money already being sent to public schools with no new state funds. Although teachers need and deserve a raise, the education community united in voicing objections to an unfunded mandate that would benefit few educators and place additional financial burdens on school districts and local taxpayers.

The special session agenda did not initially include healthcare, but Gov. Abbott amended the call at the request of lawmakers who wanted to help educators in their district struggling with rising costs. Retired educators in particular have been bracing for dramatic hikes in their out-of-pocket premiums and deductibles after lawmakers failed to fill a shortfall in TRS-Care funding during the regular session. ATPE fought successfully for additional funding that will provide much-needed short-term relief for retirees.

Payroll Deduction—ATPE staff and members met with lawmakers and testified at committee hearings about the unfairness of restricting educators’ right to payroll deduction while allowing other public servants to continue to take advantage of this convenience, using deductions for dues to fire and police unions, donations to charities, and even transactions with for-profit businesses. The bill was passed by the Senate but blocked in the House.

Vouchers—Lawmakers have repeatedly attempted to implement vouchers under a number of guises; however, these have been recognized for what they are— attempts to privatize Texas public schools. Although the Senate once again passed a voucher bill, we’re thankful to the House for listening to the voices of Texas voters who oppose them.

The Bathroom Bill—A top priority for the governor and lieutenant governor was regulating school district policies on the usage of bathrooms, which the education community viewed as an unnecessary restriction on local control that diverted attention from the real issues facing Texas public schools. Another bill debated and passed by the Senate, this legislation took a backseat in the House to more pressing issues like school finance.

“We appreciate those in the legislature who fought for additional funding and structural improvements to our school finance system,” said ATPE Executive Director Gary Godsey. “ATPE looks forward to working with lawmakers during the interim to recommend longer-term solutions that will help all Texas students excel and enable us to recruit, reward, and retain the best educators in our public schools.”

For more details, read our full coverage of the special session on our advocacy blog at TeachTheVote.org.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to fight for Texas public education. We’re 100,000 strong. Will you add your voice?

]]>Wed, 16 Aug 2017 16:57:50 GMT8d1c57f7-f626-41a1-8874-01d811c277cf

ATPE talks to Little Cypress Intermediate school nurse Kelly Meadows about Stay and Play, her school’s playground for special need students. The playground allows students of all ability levels to play together.

What is the Stay and Play Recreational Area?

Stay and Play is an all-inclusive, fully accessible playground that can be enjoyed by all children, regardless of their abilities.

The project was built in stages. The first stage resulted in creating a 40’ X 40’ fenced area and obtaining some portable sensory stimulating devices—toys. When we started this project, we dreamed of a place where children would be free to explore their environment and enjoy building relationships with their peers. We wanted them to discover on their own that they have more similarities than differences. Our specially selected playground components encourage children to be active.

The space was originally designed for a small group of students in the LifeSkills classroom. It has become a place where students from our general education classes play together with special needs students. The special needs students get exercise, play, and socialization, and our general education students learn about empathy, inclusion, and dignity—lessons that cannot be taught nearly as effectively in a traditional classroom setting.

What was the inspiration for this project?

The project began when we noticed that the students in our LifeSkills classroom, who represent a broad range of physical, developmental, neurological, and intellectual disabilities, were unable to play outside due to a lack of a safe, level space; appropriate equipment; or adequate fencing.

We identified a need that inspired a dream and eventually became a reality. Our campus consists of a beautiful building on a large tract of land. Most of our students are able to enjoy recess in the expansive fields surrounding the building.

Out of that need came a dream of enclosing a section of our property, filling it with inclusive playground equipment, and providing a place for our special needs students to play like everyone else. Our LifeSkills teacher, Rachel Choate, and I approached the Little Cypress Intermediate (LCI) principal at the time, Julia Dickerson, about this dream. As a result of our conversation, Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD donated the land and the maintenance department agreed to donate labor. We were informed that there was not money in the budget for a playground. So, I began writing grants, and we started making presentations in our community to gather support.

What is Stay and Play’s most popular feature and why?

We specially selected particular components to meet specific needs of our special needs students. The Cozy Cocoon appeals to children with autism, allowing them to retreat while observing everyone else, and at the same time it provides a place to sit and share a book with a friend. The Moonrock Climber and the Triumph Climber encourage the use of imagination and challenge students to reach for new heights. The Spin Cup is well-liked by many of the children, while others seem to enjoy playing the various drums. The Triple Shoot Out is a triangular-shaped post that has three goals set at different heights, which challenges students while also allowing them to be successful. At times, the handicap-accessible picnic table and the poured, rubberized surface are the most popular features depending on what portable equipment is out or what activities are taking place.

What changes have you seen in your students, staff, or community as a result of Stay and Play?

All our students enjoy playing with their peers. Lives have changed. A parent of a child that has both Down syndrome and autism said that we had opened a window for his child. For the first time, he saw his son engaged in play with other children and this gave his family hope. (Jacob loves the parachute and his family is now looking at getting one of their own to promote interaction at home.) The father of one of our general education students reported that his daughter has become much more patient with her younger siblings when they could not do things that came easy to her. After spending time with special needs students, some of our fourth- and fifth-grade students talk about becoming special education teachers or physical and occupational therapists.

Our primary target population for Stay and Play is the 300 students at LCI, nine of which are considered special need. Our secondary target is the adults in our area. We hope to encourage them to consider the special needs population when planning for the community and to promote acceptance of the unique qualities that these students have to offer. Our community has not only supported us financially through donations and grants, they have also shown a willingness to make changes to support special need students in the local parks, and have cited Stay and Play as their inspiration. A neighboring city is now taking the special needs population into consideration as they plan the construction and selection of equipment for their new park.

What are your future goals for this project?

Several of our special needs students do not tolerate the heat very well and others have difficulty with the exposure to the UV rays, so the amount of time they are able to enjoy outside is limited. If, however, we had a cover over Stay and Play that was high enough to allow wind to blow through while still providing shade and a barrier from the elements, we could utilize the playground more frequently and for longer periods of time.

We also hope to add a security camera that could be integrated into the school’s system, and we want to install signs to recognize our donors, sponsors, grants, memorials, and honorariums.

We hope Stay and Play inspires others to accomplish what we have.

What advice would you give to schools that are considering implementing something similar?

Talk to people about your idea and keep talking. It is helpful to have a broad base of supporters, both in the community and in the school district, who are interested in your proposal. A project like this does not appeal to everyone, but if you are fortunate enough to identify some who are passionate about seeing it become a reality, then you have taken the first key step.

And contact us at Little Cypress Intermediate! We will be happy to share with you what we have learned and how we were able to build a life-changing, all-inclusive, fully handicap-accessible playground at our school—without it ever being part of the school or district’s budget and with limited fundraising—in just four years.

To make an appointment to come and see Stay and Play or to learn more about it, contact Kelly Meadows at kmeadows@lcmcisd.org.

Kelly Meadows is the Little Cypress Intermediate school nurse, the LCM Director of Health Services, and the Project Coordinator for Stay and Play Recreational Area. Kelly graduated from Orangefield ISD and Lamar University’s BSN program before discovering her passion for school health. She has been able to combine her love of education, inspired by her father Robert Montagne, retired superintendent of Orangefield, and the love for nursing shown by her mom, Lynda Montagne, retired recovery room supervisor, into a career of more than 23 years in school health (including one year as a classroom teacher). She is happily married to Ben Meadows, her supportive husband of 31 years.

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Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest and most trusted educator group.

]]>Tue, 15 Aug 2017 14:36:21 GMT35ad02fa-de93-48d9-996a-f5b1d8356711

All ATPE members are invited to join ATPE State President Carl Garner as he hosts a series of quarterly conference calls to recap ATPE Board of Directors meetings, discuss association issues, and answer members' questions. This is a great opportunity to get to know the association and our state president a little better! The conference calls will be held on the following dates and times:

Instructions:
At the scheduled date and time of the meeting, dial in to the conference line. When prompted, enter the access code followed by hash (#).

Not a member? Join ATPE today to become part of the largest and most trusted educator group in Texas.

]]>Thu, 10 Aug 2017 15:16:44 GMT4f5a1a3f-feb0-4a95-86e0-82028274b482

It’s no secret that we think we have the best benefits in town (OK, well, the state too). Through our services and discounts, many members actually find that they save more than the cost of their ATPE membership. Last month, we gave you tips on how to use products like our lodging and car rental discounts for any travels you’re planning, but there are a variety of ways you can save if shopping is your game. With that thought in mind and the following shopping tips in hand, we have no doubt you’ll be bargain hunting in no time.

Utilize ATPE’s Online Shopping Mall
Enjoy an exclusive shopping experience with our online mall destination, Azigo. All those stores located at a physical mall? Azigo has them, too! That means you can shop for items like school supplies, clothes, and electronics at a discount—from your home—and get some money back in your pocket. Combine our virtual mall with back-to-school sales and save even more. Once Target, Walmart, and Office Depot put their school supplies on sale, order through Azigo and watch the savings fly.

Capitalize on up to 80 Percent Savings on Office Supplies
ATPE members can save up to 80 percent on more than 93,000 products through Office Depot/OfficeMax. That’s right, 8-0. Our partnership with this company also means prices below retail value and free next-day delivery for orders over $50—plus, the 80 percent off is good online and at the store! Do your shopping through Azigo and you’ll get cash back on top of everything else.

Take Advantage of Tax-Free Weekend
Mark your calendars: Tax-free weekend is Aug. 11–13. Save yourself time and from having to deal with crowds by shopping from home. Many stores even offer free shipping during the weekend. That means you can potentially get free shipping and tax-free shopping. And you can get cash back if you go through our online shopping mall, Azigo. These tips are applicable later in the year, too, when we’re all gearing up for the holidays with Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Search for Discounted Gift Cards
Gift cards are essentially just plastic money to spend at a store, so imagine the savings you can achieve if you buy a gift card at a discounted price! Sites like Gift Card Granny and Raise offer thousands of deals for hundreds of brands.

Many thanks to ATPE Regional Representative Cynthia Villalovos for these great tips! Cynthia is the representative for Regions 3 and 4.

]]>Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:38:34 GMT9202b423-db02-4498-873b-db07334a022bRenew TODAY, so you can focus on the things that really matter when you get back to the classroom.]]>

Texas educators know that the beginning of the school year is a hectic time. The first few weeks of the year are packed with planning assignments, preparing classrooms, meeting new students, developing classroom policies, and attending staff meetings.

Whew! That’s a lot of work!

Don’t let renewing your ATPE membership be one more thing on your back-to-school to-do list! Renew TODAY, so you can focus on the things that really matter when you get back to the classroom.

You can save now and pay later through our convenient payment options. Sign up for bank draft or credit/debit card installments so that you don’t have to worry about mailing a check each month.

Once you’ve enrolled, spread the word about ATPE’s superior benefits to your coworkers. We welcome membership from all public school employees.

Check out our membership categories and dues below, and join or renew your ATPE membership for the 2017–18 school year NOW!

Special offer! If paid your dues via payroll deduction last year and change your payment method to bank draft rollover or credit card rollover for the 2017-18 membership year, you can save $20 by renewing online and using the promo code: Switch20

**First-time professional members are educators who have never been a professional member of ATPE. The discounted rate ends Oct. 31, 2017.

]]>Thu, 03 Aug 2017 15:04:51 GMTfb0f2832-2ec7-4fb6-b435-5254cec99252

On July 12, ATPE members gathered at summit to elect a new slate of officers for the coming year.

These officers (shown above) started their terms on Aug. 1. Your 2017-18 state officers are:

President Carl Garner, from Region 10, is a sixth-grade math and science teacher in Mesquite ISD with 17 years in education and as an ATPE member. Garner has served as ATPE’s state secretary, treasurer, and vice president.

Vice President Byron “Skip” Hildebrand, from Region 20, is a retired math teacher with 37 years of experience in education and 25 years as an ATPE member. Hildebrand has been the ATPE state treasurer and secretary.

Secretary Tonja Gray is a 29-year education veteran from Region 14. A 24-year ATPE member, Gray is a K-5 Literacy Success teacher in Abilene ISD. Gray served as ATPE’s 2016-17 state secretary.

Treasurer Jimmy Lee is a food science teacher in Millsap ISD. He has been in education for 30 years and in ATPE for 19 years. Before being elected state treasurer, Lee was the Region 8 director.

Past President Julleen Bottoms, from Region 12, is a 25-year education veteran with 22 years under her belt as an ATPE member. Bottoms, who previously served as ATPE’s state secretary, treasurer, vice president, and president, is a K-5 technology applications teacher and campus technical specialist at Corsicana ISD.

From left to right in photo: President Carl Garner, Vice President Byron Hildebrand, Secretary Tonja Gray, Treasurer Jimmy Lee, and Past President Julleen Bottoms

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the state’s largest and most trusted educator group.

]]>Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:55:36 GMTb3eb01a2-68d7-4424-837b-169ea0b4f847

The special session is in full swing, and lawmakers are considering a number of anti-public education proposals backed by Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Bills to fund private school vouchers with taxpayer dollars and legislation to take away educators' rights to voluntarily deduct professional membership dues from their own paychecks have been fast-tracked in the Texas Senate.

We need your help to fight these and other dangerous proposals and to stand up for our public schools and hardworking educators. Whether or not you attended the Texans for Public Education Rally, you can still help us advocate for public education!

Please visit Advocacy Central today to contact your legislators about the education bills being considered right now. (Member log in required.)

Join today to become part of the state’s largest and most trusted educator group.

*Eligibility, terms, limits, and exclusions apply.

]]>Tue, 25 Jul 2017 19:09:53 GMT0980bb80-997c-4703-ae8e-c7f9254208a2

For many educators, summer presents an opportunity to unwind and take a much-deserved break from the stress of the school year. But it’s also important to refresh your mind and get ready for the school bell to ring again. We’ve rounded up a selection of books meant to inspire and rejuvenate you, as well as arm you with new ideas for your classroom. Happy reading!

Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess
If you participated in the first session of our ATPE Book Circle this summer, then Dave Burgess’s Teach Like a Pirate is already familiar to you. With this book, Burgess has compiled his Teach Like a PIRATE seminars into a fun, quick read. The book focuses on ways to help teachers be more engaging in the classroom and more fulfilled in their career. Burgess also includes “hooks and brainstorming questions” to boost creativity and bring new ideas to lesson plans.

Uncommon Learning by Eric Sheninger (ATPE Book Circle book, eight hours of CPE)
Also part of our summer 2017 Book Circle, Uncommon Learning delves into how schools can take advantage of the digital age in order to improve learning, engagement, public relations, and more. Written by Eric Sheninger, this book discusses how mobile devices, social media, and open-source technology play a role in helping students develop the skills and tools they will need in the real world. Sheninger also addresses how schools can become leaders in this new technological environment.

Choice Words: How Our Language Affects Children's Learning by Peter Johnston
At 120 pages, Peter Johnston’s Choice Words is a quick read. In this book, Johnson explores how a teacher’s most powerful tool—language—plays a key role in shaping students and their place in the world. The book is full of examples of seemingly ordinary words, phrases, and language usage that are crucial in the context of a classroom. Rooted in a study by literacy teachers, Choice Words explains how the things we say and don’t say affect what children learn and who they become.

Why Students Don't Like School by Daniel Willingham
The title can be misleading, so stay with us! Rather than stating why children may not like school, cognitive scientist and author Daniel Willingham explores how both teachers and students think and learn, and how this affects the classroom experience. The book concentrates on how understanding the brain’s innerworkings can help teachers make school a more positive experience for their students. Additionally, the book lays out nine principles you can clearly apply to your classroom.

In Praise of American Educators: And How They Can Become Even Better by Richard DuFour
Drawing upon his own research and experience, Richard DuFour passionately tackles the state of education today and discusses what we can do to improve it for tomorrow. In Praise of American Educators dissects the myths you hear from media outlets and policymakers surrounding American schools. DuFour presents evidence for why certain reform policies have failed and provides detailed steps for enacting positive change. DuFour truly believes the power to improve public education lies within the strength of its teachers. For more from DuFour, see his article on professional learning communities in the Spring 2015 issue of ATPE News.

Don’t forget, with the ATPE Book Circle you can turn reading into a professional development opportunity!

In this forum, moderators select professional development book titles and promote online discussions about best practices in the classroom based on ideas shared in these books. Read and discuss your thoughts—and earn continuing professional education (CPE) credit for each chapter read and discussed online (program requirements must be met for issuance of a Continuing Professional Education Certificate of Completion). Discussion questions are posted weekly on the ATPE Book Circle forum in the discussion thread of the book of your choosing.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to take advantage of ATPE’s professional development opportunities for teachers, principals, and paraeducators.

]]>Thu, 20 Jul 2017 10:17:52 GMT04e466e5-8411-419c-9a00-2ffde740b14a

Want to make your mark on public education policy? Casey Hubbard discusses her experiences fighting for public education and shares three critical ways public educators can make their voices heard.

1. Volunteer for a State Committee

Did you know that state agencies sometimes ask ATPE to provide names of educators who could serve on advisory committees? These committee members provide critical input on advocacy-related issues.

I was honored to serve on the state Educator Prep Committee in 2015-16. When ATPE asked for volunteers who would be willing to speak for teachers in different forums, I signed up right away. I am passionate about public education and knew this was an opportunity to share my dedication to my career!

The committee met once a month, but I joined virtually from my home computer. In the first meeting, I felt overwhelmed because I was not familiar with the topic we were discussing. But during the second meeting, we discussed special education, which is my area of expertise. I shared my experience in the teacher education program at Texas Woman’s University and how it prepared me for teaching in the field.

Another topic we debated was student teaching programs. Many committee members agreed that there were not enough benefits to entice qualified educators to become student teaching mentors and advisers. We discussed creating a program that teaches mentors how to better support their student teachers and understand university requirements. I drew upon my experience working with student teachers in my classroom, as well as my mother’s experience as a supervisor for student teachers.

The biggest challenge of being on the committee was finding the time. The committee met in Austin and I live in Coppell, but thanks to technology, I was able to join the meetings. If I could not virtually attend, I would read the meeting agenda and email the committee chair my thoughts. I was the only committee member currently teaching in a public school classroom, so I knew my perspective was valued!

2. Volunteer for a Pro-Public Education Candidate’s Election Campaign

During the last round of primaries, I volunteered for Bennett Ratliff’s campaign for Texas State Representative. Bennett is very involved in my school district (Coppell ISD) and served on the school board for one term. He worked hard to reduce the number of end-of-course exams in high school. Because of his dedication to public schools, I decided to get involved in his campaign.

My part was small but important. I walked the block reminding people to vote. I talked to anyone who would listen about my experience as a classroom teacher and how Bennett supported public schools and teachers. I also stood at the poll with the current school board president to talk to people about Bennett as they came to vote. Ultimately, Bennett lost that campaign, but I gained many new friends—including Bennett! At our spring ATPE meeting, he even came by to say hello and share his appreciation.

3. Serve on an ATPE Committee

This past spring, I served on the ATPE Political Action Committee (PAC). I saw firsthand how the PAC supports pro-public school candidates.

I also served on the ATPE Legislative Committee. As a member of the committee, I provided input on ATPE’s legislative priorities. The items we voted on at the meeting will be brought to the floor this summer at the House of Delegates during the ATPE Summit.

The work we did in the committee guides ATPE’s Governmental Relations team (they are truly our voice at the Capitol) and ultimately impacts what legislation gets passed (or not passed).

Start Today

Being involved in ATPE has reminded me why I wanted to work in government so long ago. I wanted to make a difference in my world—and as a public school special education teacher, I’ve been able to do just that!

But I don’t just impact the students I teach. Because I’m an ATPE member, I have a larger impact on my community AND my state.

I encourage all ATPE members to consider serving on an ATPE committee or a state committee. Many teachers think they don’t have the knowledge to contribute, but I say we all do! As public school teachers, we must make our voices heard.

Casey Hubbard will be starting the 2017-18 school year as an educational diagnostician in Denton ISD. She has been an ATPE member since being a university student in 2005.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest and most trusted educator group. For legislative updates, follow our blog at TeachtheVote.org.

]]>Tue, 18 Jul 2017 05:00:49 GMTb5c46a37-1e97-4e39-b310-4c2864944232

Is the title enough? Should I just stop typing now?

Seriously, now is the time to book a school year vacation. The key is that it takes place during the school year.

Because. YOU WILL NEED A BREAK. And you know how the school year goes. You will not take the time to go somewhere because you will tell yourself that you will plan it later and later will come and you will put off the planning. Then you’ll tell yourself that you’re too busy and the whole school year will go by.

That is the glory of this plan. You will already have everything planned. So . . . YOU WILL HAVE TO GO! Book a staycation or road trip or a long weekend or a cruise. It doesn’t have to be fancy or cost a lot, but book it. BOOK IT NOW.

Allison Venuto is an educator with 12 years of experience in the Dallas area and is the owner of Ducks in a Row Personal Organizing. You can contact her at Allison@DucksInARowDallas.com.

Don’t forget about ATPE’s fabulous services and discounts when you book your next vacation! You can save on car rentals, hotels, AAA, cruises, theme parks, zoos, and more!

The 2017 legislative session was a busy one, and your ATPE Lobby Team worked tirelessly to fight off dangerous bills.

During the legislative session, ATPE's Governmental Relations team:

Lobbied for dramatic improvements to the state’s school finance system and urged lawmakers to provide the resources necessary to allow every child in Texas access to an exemplary public education

Helped prevent the passage of bills that would change the defined benefit structure of TRS, raised awareness of the dramatically rising costs of educators’ healthcare programs, and helped secure additional funding for TRS-Care to prevent retired educators from losing their access to healthcare

Fought back against anti-educator bills that would do away with payroll deduction for voluntary professional association dues

Helped defeat bills aimed at creating private school voucher programs

Advocated for maintaining high standards for the education profession and a compensation and benefits structure that promotes educator recruitment and retention

Supported bills to reduce the role that standardized test scores play in our accountability system for schools, in teacher evaluations, and in high-stakes decisions for students

Supported changes to the A-F accountability system put in place last session

Bolstered efforts to prevent and punish cyberbullying

Supported prohibiting the Texas Education Agency (TEA) from basing a school’s performance on the number of students in special education programs

Worked closely with lawmakers to address educator misconduct

But our work isn’t over yet! Gov. Greg Abbott has called a special session beginning July 18 to cover 20 items, including several public education issues. For a full review of how Texas education faired during the 85th Texas Legislature and to learn more about the special session, read our blog at TeachtheVote.org.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s most trusted educator group.

]]>Fri, 07 Jul 2017 18:03:16 GMTf19f51e1-99f6-4020-9d04-72b207dcd106

Have an innovative idea you’d like to share with others in the education field? Now is your chance! SXSWedu’s 2018 PanelPicker is open through Friday, July 21!

To submit your idea, fill out the application. Be sure to include any relevant sites or info reviewers will need to properly judge your panel. The final SXSWedu panels are selected by the public, along with an advisory board of industry experts that provides specific feedback on each panel and SXSWedu staff.

SXSWedu 2018 will take place in Austin on March 9-18, 2018. The conference celebrates innovation in learning by hosting a diverse community of enthusiastic educators. And, for the third year in a row, ATPE is partnering with SXSWedu to certify selected sessions for continuing professional education (CPE) credits! Check back as the conference grows closer to learn more about this great opportunity for Texas educators!

Not a member? Join ATPE today to become part of the largest and most trusted educators’ group in Texas. ATPE offers liability insurance and employment rights defense coverage for educators as well as professional development opportunities.

]]>Wed, 05 Jul 2017 20:31:33 GMT2faf79db-51f8-4a1c-bb70-e2d844c2b317

The vast size of Texas doesn’t just give us bragging rights. It also means we have a plethora of options when it comes to planning a trip to new, diverse places. And with your ATPE discounts, you’ll find summer travels even easier. Plan a road trip and take advantage of your auto rental discounts. Or, if you take your own car, don’t forget that members get a first-year discount on AAA roadside assistance. And figuring out where you’ll rest your head is painless with ATPE’s lodging discounts at more than a dozen hotel options.

Try exploring these hidden gems:

Alpine, Texas

Nestled between the Davis Mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert, Alpine is the perfect gateway to Far West Texas. It’s less than two hours from Big Bend National Park and under three hours from Big Bend Ranch State Park—Texas’s biggest state park and a favorite among locals. Alpine is also close to the McDonald Observatory and the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center. If you decide to hang around town, check out the murals that cover the walls of many local businesses. Blending the area’s history with folklore, these murals offer unique insight into the culture of the town. The Museum of the Big Bend, located on the Sul Ross State University campus, offers an even deeper dive into the Big Bend region’s natural and cultural history. See what we mean when we say, “perfect gateway”?

Canton, Texas

The first thing to know about Canton is that it hosts the largest and longest running outdoor flea market in the country. First Monday Trade Days, which has been around for more than a century, is open only one weekend a month, so you don’t want to miss it! From antiques and collectibles, to home furnishings and décor, you could discover that one-of-a-kind piece you’ve been searching for. Or, maybe you’ll find an item you didn’t really need, but just have to have! Visitors can also fish at Mill Creek Reservoir, swim in Old City Lake, and golf on one of the top-ranked courses in Texas at Twin Lakes Golf Course. Splash Kingdom Waterpark is perfect for families, and the Canton Plaza Museum houses one of the largest bell collections in the state—yes, bells—so you can ring in the fun during your getaway.

Canyon, Texas

Though the Panhandle region is known for its flat, grassy plains, Canyon, Texas, has something different to offer. Less than 30 minutes from Canyon is the country’s second-largest canyon. Palo Duro Canyon State Park encompasses more than 29,182 acres of rugged landscape dotted with mesquite and juniper trees blending with the rusty hues of the canyon. Visitors can explore the canyon by hiking, mountain biking, driving, and even horseback riding. The town of Canyon also boasts its own Historic Downtown Square for all the best shopping and dining, and the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest historical museum in Texas. We’re sure this small Texas town won’t fall flat on expectations.

Gonzales, Texas

Known as the site where the first shot for Texas independence was fired, Gonzales honors that moment in history with a “Come and Take It” Festival every October. But this small town has plenty to do during the rest of the year, too. Palmetto State Park lies about 15 minutes outside the town center and is a tropical paradise in southeast Texas. Dwarf palmettos line the park and grow among the trees, and with multiple sources of water (like the San Marcos River), you can play on the water and on land when you visit. Stay in one of the area’s numerous bed and breakfasts and make sure to leave enough time for some museums, including the Pioneer Village and the Gonzales County Jail Museum. Come and take all that Gonzales has to offer!

Orange, Texas

Located near the Louisiana border, Orange is the easternmost city in Texas. It is also home to the magnificent Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center. These beautiful gardens present an ecosystem of more than 300 plant species, a cypress swamp, and a bird observation area. You can even take a boat ride out to Adams Bayou from the nature center. Back in town, stop by the Stark Museum of Art to gaze at exhibits on the people and wildlife of the American West, as well as a significant collection of American Indian artifacts. And don’t forget to take a stroll on the Riverfront Boardwalk along the Sabine River. “Orange” you glad to have another Texas destination to seek out?

Ready to begin your travels? Check out ATPE’s discounts to see learn more about how ATPE helps you save on hotels, car rentals, theme parks, zoos, vacation and cruise packages, AAA, and more!

Not a member? Join ATPE today to become part of the largest and most trusted educator group in Texas. Members can more than recoup the cost of their dues by using their ATPE discounts!

]]>Wed, 28 Jun 2017 21:40:38 GMT8ab8d45c-a2a7-4367-bdd6-c1d534ab7e23

Looking to learn new skills during the summer break? These professional development options will help you hone your teaching skills so that you can make 2017-18 your best teaching year yet!

Texas Gateway: Texas Gateway is a TEA-approved CPE provider that offers free professional development courses for educators across the state. You can search courses by specific TEKS to help target your professional development efforts.

PBS TeacherLine: PBS TeacherLine has courses that are aligned with the Texas education standards. They provide customized private local courses and online options. Courses are searchable by grade level, subject matter, and hours provided. There are a handful of free courses along with those available for a fee ($50). Click on the “self-paced courses” in the course catalog to find the online courses.

UTAustinX: Check out these free online courses from the University of Texas at Austin. These courses will help you refine your teaching and classroom management skills along with your subject matter expertise. For more courses from UT Austin, visit the UTeach program. UTeach courses are specific to teachers but more expensive than the UTAustinX options.

ATPE’s Professional Learning Portal: ATPE’s Professional Learning Portal offers tons of FREE online courses in a range of areas, including classroom management, testing, communication, stress management, and more. The Portal also allows you to track and manage all your CPE hours—even those acquired from other providers!

Local Museums: Did you know many museums have summer professional development options for teachers? Check with the museums in your area to find out what options they offer. Classes offered by museums probably won’t be your typical professional development—but they might provide just the right dose of creativity that you need to jumpstart your year!

What professional development providers do you use most? Share your own favorites in the comments.

Not at ATPE member? Join today to become part of the state’s largest educator group.

]]>Tue, 27 Jun 2017 16:12:21 GMT9f941238-e8e1-4df6-bfa1-b348493e2690

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from our staff members. Today’s post features Office Administrator Amanda Bernstein.

What drew you to working at ATPE?
Many of my family members serve the education community in various ways. My current position blends all my previous experiences in life into one job.

How long have you been working at ATPE? What was your first job here?
I’ve been ATPE’s office administrator for the last five years. The time has passed by quickly. This position provides the ability to create a comfortable and efficient environment for our employees who serve our members.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned while working here?
It’s all about teamwork. I work on the administration side of the organization, which doesn’t lend itself to interacting with our members frequently. It is great when we come together for summit and NTOs. This provides an opportunity to interact with some of our members. It renews my energy to serve this organization.

What is your favorite part of working at ATPE?
Two things. First, we have some great people here at ATPE. This job provides opportunities for interacting with all facets of the organization. Second, there is the variety of skills involved with my position. No two days are alike. I am always on the go!

Share something fun about yourself that ATPE members might not know.
I’m an outdoorsy girl. When I’m not at the office, you can catch me photographing nature in one of the wonderful parks in our National and State Park system. There is something serene about it, that is until you have to reach over that cliff to get that perfect shot! 😊 When you are at the state office, visit the Huntland Hideout to view some of my photos.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the state’s largest educator group.

]]>Thu, 22 Jun 2017 14:52:09 GMT9e3abc5f-2ef3-4d86-896b-42bd36df4a35

The 2017 ATPE Summit is right around the corner! Summit attendees will elect state officers, debate amendments to ATPE’s bylaws, and set the course for the year ahead.

Welcome to summer! Are you enjoying your time by the pool? Are you getting your passport stamped? Are you ready to get to work again?

Wait.

What?

Some of you may be up for well-deserved awards and others may be searching for the award of a promotion this summer, so I thought we’d talk a bit about getting organized. Creating systems will make the process easier on yourself.

Here are some tips on organizing your accomplishments:

Resume: Create a “full resume” that has every job, committee, and volunteer position you’ve ever participated in. Everything! Ever! You never know when this information will come in handy. Use this document to update your current resume. Contact your college’s career center for resources to help you meet the current trends with resumes.

Paper files: If you’ve kept paper copies of your activities, use this information to add to your full resume. Clean out the file as you add the information, and scan any documents that you may need later.

Electronic files: Save documents with a name and date to help you stay organized. For example, ResumeYYMMDD and GoogleClassroomCertificateYYMMDD are good ways to save your files. Save multiple versions of your resume because you may want to highlight certain skills for various reasons.

Taking the time this summer to create the ultimate teacher portfolio for awards and/or interview submissions will save to an immense amount of time during the school year.

Now . . . Are you back by the pool?

Allison Venuto is an educator with 12 years of experience in the Dallas area and is the owner of Ducks in a Row Personal Organizing. You can contact her at Allison@DucksInARowDallas.com.

Like what you read? Make sure you never miss a post by following us on Bloglovin’.

Check these sites for general info on education jobs across the country. Find tips on applying for teaching jobs, and expectations and trends in the education field. Search these sites for Texas locations to find openings in your area.

A good resume and cover letter can make or break your application. Be sure to customize your resume and cover letter to your own experience and talents—and for the job at hand. You want to make sure your documents present a professional appearance, and that they truly reflect you as a candidate and how you’re best suited for that particular position. And don’t forget to have someone else read both your resume and cover letter before you send in your application!

When you’re looking for a new job, nothing beats old-fashioned networking. Check your region’s events to find out when the next ATPE Connect event in your area will be. This is a great opportunity to get to know educators in other schools and positions—you never know what connection might open a new door for you!

What job search resources do you use? Share your own tips and tools in the comments.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the state’s largest and most trusted group of educators.

]]>Tue, 13 Jun 2017 14:56:35 GMT345950dc-9d27-444f-8e58-648ebfb62a6c

This week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott released his plans for a special legislative session beginning July 18. The 20-item agenda includes a revived push for vouchers for special education students and a prohibition on payroll deduction for educators. Both issues were addressed and rejected by the legislature during its regular session.

While the governor’s agenda also calls for a $1,000 pay raise for teachers, it creates an unfunded mandate for school districts, since Gov. Abbott wants lawmakers to offer no additional money to fund those raises. At the same time, the governor is seeking legislation to make it easier for school districts to fire teachers. In many districts, firing teachers and reducing benefits might be the only way to pay for a $1,000 mandatory salary increase for those teachers who remain.

Please contact your legislators and let them know you oppose the governor’s anti-educator agenda. ATPE's Advocacy Central makes it quick and easy for members to contact elected officials about issues of concern. Members, we also encourage you to make a donation to ATPE-PAC. Your PAC contributions help elect Texas legislators who support public education and the professional interests of educators.

Any current ATPE member of an active local unit may attend the summit, but local unit presidents are the only ones who can register and certify delegates. If you are unsure who your local unit president is or are having difficulty reaching your president, please contact the ATPE volunteer program coordinator immediately at volunteer@atpe.org.

If you are an ATPE member but do not have a local unit in your area and are interested in attending, please contact the ATPE volunteer program coordinator today at volunteer@atpe.org.

But wait—there’s more! With our STAR recruitment challenge, if you recruit five or more new professional, first, administrator, or associate members between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2017, you will receive a gift in December 2017!

The volunteer leader who recruits the most new members in these categories during this time will receive $1,000! Participating recruiters will be entered into a $500 grand prize drawing. All entries will be verified. Read our guidelines and submit your names via our online form at atpe.org/star to participate. (Members must be logged in to access this link.)

Happy recruiting, and good luck!

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest and most trusted educator group.

]]>Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:21:41 GMT24be67d9-bd21-42aa-a022-b11bc7690f9b

Did you know May is Mental Health Month?

Teachers are on the front lines with their students and are often the first to notice that a child needs help. To close out the month, here are four important mental health resources for students and teachers:

Calm.com: Calm.com is a meditation website that you can use on your own or in the classroom. The site provides daily free meditations as well as mindfulness tips, and includes free access for teachers. Listen to guided meditations, breathing meditations, or just relaxing sounds daily to help you and your students stay calm and focused in the classroom.

ATPE Professional Learning Portal: Check out ATPE’s Professional Learning Portal for free online courses (for CPE credit) on a variety of topics, including classroom management and instruction techniques. See “Social and Emotional Learning in Secondary Schools” for tips on helping your students become emotionally secure and successful young adults and “Being Good to You: A Self-Care Guide for Teachers” for techniques to improve your own mental health—to help you be the best you can be inside and outside the classroom.

Know of any good mental health resources? Share your favorites in the comments below.

The Summer 2017 edition of our award-winning magazine is now available online now.

In this issue:

Learn what you can do before the next legislative session to help public education win important battles

Discover inspiring Texas public schools that were designed with students and communities in mind

Activities to help students identify and manage their emotions

Interview tips to help you get the job you want

Learn what it really means to be a District of Innovation

ATPE Lobbyist Monty Exter discusses the consequences of our elections

Why vouchers still aren’t the answer for Texas public schools

Two university students reflect on their first ATPE Summit

Everything you need to know to make the 2017 ATPE Summit a success

As always, you will also see what other ATPE members have been up to and learn about ways the association is continuing its mission of making a difference in the lives Texas educators and students!

Our Brain Break this issue features a crossword. Check your answers, and email your completed photo to contest@atpe.org by June 10 for a chance to win an ATPE-branded prize!

]]>Fri, 26 May 2017 18:35:41 GMT679abb2e-6127-4a84-b1a1-b064f714649e

The Texas legislature is only in session for a few months every two years, but the impact of laws made during those sessions can be long-lasting. One of the best times to influence the legislative process is during non-session years when lawmakers and candidates are fundraising and running for office.

Want to stay involved when the legislature is no longer in session? Educators can take an active role in choosing legislators and shaping the direction of future education policy debates by volunteering their time during election season.

Here are six simple ways to help out in the election process:

Register voters. Increasing voter turnout by making sure eligible voters are registered is one of the best ways you can help in your local community. Contact your county voter registrar to attend a simple training, and you’ll be registering voters in no time! Make sure your colleagues and friends who are concerned about public education are registered to vote and aware of the issues. If you work with older students, you can even register them to vote for the first time!

Recruit volunteers for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts. Talk to your school leaders about ways to encourage voting by employees and even high school students at your campus. You can find resources through the Texas Educators Vote coalition of which ATPE is a member.

Become a precinct chair. You can have a big impact at the local level by becoming a precinct chair for your political party. A precinct chair is a local representative for a political party who is responsible for attending party meetings, recruiting volunteers, organizing volunteers and campaign activities, and serving as an election judge. Reach out to your local Democratic and Republican leaders to find out how you can get involved.

Become a delegate. Each political party selects delegates to attend regional, state, and even national party conventions during election years. Delegates cast votes for candidates and decide party platforms, which include formal positions on education issues. Find links to the political party websites to learn more about the process for becoming a delegate here.

Help shape ATPE’s advocacy efforts. Want to help ATPE determine what we should fight for during the next legislative session? You can always provide feedback on the ATPE Legislative Program. Review the Legislative Program and contact government@atpe.org with comments. You can also volunteer to serve on our Legislative Committee, which provides in-depth feedback on our agenda.

Stay informed. Keep up to date on all the latest legislative and election news by following our blog at TeachTheVote.org.

Ah . . . it’s that time of year . . . The school year is winding down. The smells of freshly cut grass and freedom and bubble wrap are in the air.

It’s that time of year where we start hoarding boxes . . . begging from friends . . . and ordering from Amazon. Mostly for the packing material.

It’s that time of year where we pack up our classrooms. Here are some tips to help the process go more smoothly:

Classroom use. Ensure you know who will have access to the room and if the room will be used regularly for summer school, camps, meetings, and the like.

Enlist help. Ask your students, office aides, NHS students, booster clubs, PTSA members, and anyone else you can think of to help you out. Anything someone else can do for you frees up your time.

Checklist. Take a picture of your room, so you know how you want it set up for the fall. Create a checklist of what you do so that packing next year will be easier. The list can double as an unpacking list.

The last shall be first. Begin backing up the least used items, leaving the most used for the last box. Mark the final box with, “Open first.”

The first shall be first. Get at the front of the line and notify your office staff of any repairs needed over the summer now.

While I generally try to keep blogs to three tips, I kept finding myself adding to the list! Here I am at five and I still have others.

***Golden Rule of Packing #1. If you value an item, take it home.***Golden Rule of Packing #2. If you find yourself with an unopened box in September, there’s a good chance you don’t need it. Perhaps a new teacher would find value in it.

This process is time-consuming and complicated, and I hope it goes as smoothly as possible for you.

Enjoy your well-deserved summer!

Allison Venuto is an educator with 12 years of experience in the Dallas area and is the owner of Ducks in a Row Personal Organizing. You can contact her at Allison@DucksInARowDallas.com.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the state’s largest and most trusted educator group.

]]>Tue, 23 May 2017 14:13:04 GMTfd33566f-09a2-4316-b78d-742a5b0fa86a

The end of the school year is a hectic time—teachers are busy testing, reviewing, preparing for next year, and boxing up classrooms. We know you’re ready for a break—and you certainly deserve one! But don’t step out of the classroom before you’ve taken a look at these four common end-of-year educator concerns, addressed by ATPE’s legal team.

I received a job offer in another district that I would love to take. But I have already signed and returned my contract for next year. Is there anything I can do?

The Texas Education Code states that certified educators can resign from their district without penalty even if they have signed their contract for the upcoming school year as long as they notify their current district at least 45 calendar days before the first instructional day of the next school year.* The notice should be made in writing, sent to the superintendent for the district, and mailed certified mail with return receipt requested to make sure you have proof that you sent the notice.

Two of my student textbooks are missing, and I have heard that the administration has made teachers pay for missing books in the past. Can they make me pay for these if they are not found?

The Texas Education Code prohibits the district from requiring that a teacher pay for lost or damaged instructional materials or technological equipment as long as the teacher has acted in good faith.* A teacher can enter into an agreement where the teacher assumes financial responsibility for technology equipment, like a laptop, as long as the teacher is allowed to take it off campus, use it for personal as well as school use, and is notified of the cost and, and most importantly, as long as the agreement is entirely voluntary. A district is prohibited from including such an agreement in an employment contract or in any other way requiring a teacher to agree.

I had to take leave due to a serious illness. My doctor gave me a release saying I could return two weeks before the end of the year but my district’s HR office is saying I cannot return until next year. Can they keep me from returning if my doctor says I am ready to come back?

Depending of the type of leave you are on, the administration may be able to delay your return until the beginning of the next year. Family and Medical Leave regulations allow the administration to delay the return of instructional personnel for leave taken near the end of the year under some circumstances. State temporary disability leave rules also allow the administration to delay an educator’s return until the beginning of the next school year. There may be other considerations that would affect your situation, so you should be sure to get competent legal advice regarding your options.

I have not received my contract for 2017-18 yet and I am getting worried. Should I be?

If you are a classroom teacher or certified administrator the Texas Education Code requires that you be employed by the district in the same professional capacity in the next school year unless you are notified that the board of trustees has terminated your probationary contract or proposed nonrenewal or termination of your term contract.* If you receive no such notice and you also have not submitted a resignation of your employment, you are legally entitled to a contract for the next year, whether or not you have actually received one to sign. The deadline for notice is 10 calendar days before the last day of instruction.

*If your district is a District of Innovation, you should make sure that it has not opted out of this provision.

ATPE’s in-house attorneys and statewide network of supporting law firms are experienced in Texas education law. For advice on these and other career-related questions, eligible ATPE members may contact ATPE’s Member Legal Services Department.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the state’s largest and most trusted group of educators.

]]>Thu, 18 May 2017 14:19:04 GMT18b451bc-a73f-44d1-a1d5-90dd4b4b7f09

Looking for some fun new activities for the end of the year? Try these five exciting activities to keep your students engaged through the last day of school.

Write letters. Have your current students write letters to the students who will be entering your class next year. Encourage them to share what they learned, what their favorite part of the year was, or what they would do differently. Then post or read the letters for your next class on the first day!

Get parents involved. For each unit that you covered throughout the year, prepare a question that takes the subject matter to the next level—something students didn’t learn or discuss in class but could easily research or consider on their own time. Pass out one question to each student at the end of the year (it’s ok if multiple students have the same question). Then send the question, along with the answer and/or notes and resources, to each student’s parents and encourage them to pose the question to their children over the summer.

Bingo! Play bingo with your class using this bingo card generator. Students achieve bingo by having their classmates sign off on squares that apply to them. Squares can include fun facts (e.g., “Taking a trip to the beach this summer”) or can be based activities or projects your class completed throughout the year (e.g., “Favorite book read in class this year was A Wrinkle in Time”).

Play Balderdash. Create your own Balderdash game to reinforce the vocabulary words your students learned throughout the year.

Create a classroom memory book. Students can work on their own pages, or they can work in teams to create themed pages. Come up with page categories/prompts ahead of time (e.g., “My favorite project this year,” “Three things I learned this year”), and have students fill in the blanks. Supplement with photos of students or projects if you have them, or students can bring in their own photos. You can make copies for students to take home, or digitize the pages so students can keep electronic files. Share the memory book with your new students on the first day of class next year!

What are your favorite end-of-the year activities? Share your ideas in the comments!

Keep reading the ATPE Blog for more great tips and tricks for Texas educators. Want to be sure you never miss a blog post? Follow us on Bloglovin’.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the state’s most trusted group of educators.

Teaching seems to require the sort of skills one would need to pilot a bus full of live chickens backwards, with no brakes, down a rocky road through the Andes while providing colorful and informative commentary on the scenery.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest and most trusted educator group.

]]>Wed, 10 May 2017 18:10:12 GMTdfaf4b8c-ef2d-4c56-96c0-7b3b22e51628

The 2017 ATPE Summit is your opportunity to connect, celebrate, and have fun with fellow educators and volunteers from across the state.

Looking for a good reason to attend? Here are five great ones!

Listen to inspiring speakers: You won’t want to miss our TWO keynote speakers! Popular speaker Joel Zeff is back! Zeff’s unique blend of improvisational comedy and unique perspective on work and life have entertained audiences for years. Linda Cliatt-Wayman is a passionate educator with an unwavering belief in the potential of all children. She is a powerful leader and seasoned educator who will provide the inspiration you need to make 2017-18 your best year yet!

Shape your association: ATPE Summit delegates vote on important association business. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to make your voice heard.

Learn, learn, learn: You can earn up to seven hours of CPE at our professional development sessions! Get tips for your local unit AND your classroom. Best of all, the majority of our volunteer training breakouts will be led by our ATPE volunteer leaders!

Have fun: This year, we’ll be hosting a silent dance party AND Vegas night! Never been to a silent dance party before? We promise you’ll have fun!

Housing closes June 9, so let your local unit leaders know you are interested in attending today!

]]>Tue, 09 May 2017 05:10:07 GMT188bafb8-fbee-4877-90b7-390110dd652d

ATPE and other parties to a lawsuit over the state’s new recommended teacher appraisal system known as T-TESS have reached a settlement agreement.

ATPE and three other teacher associations sued the state in April 2016 alleging that new commissioner’s rules to implement T-TESS violated state laws and were against public policy. Through the Office of the Attorney General, which represented the Texas Education Agency in the lawsuit, Commissioner of Education Mike Morath has agreed to revise the rules in exchange for the four teacher groups’ suspending their legal challenges.

The terms of the settlement agreement call for removal of language in the commissioner’s rules that require districts to employ four specific student growth measures in evaluating teachers under the T-TESS model. One of those four criteria was “value-added data based on student state assessment results,” often called Value-Added Measurement or Value-Added Modeling (VAM). ATPE has long criticized the use of VAM for high-stakes purposes based on concerns about the validity and fairness of the controversial model.

‘VAM attempts to use complex statistical calculations on students’ standardized test scores in previous years to predict how well a student should perform on future tests; the resulting test performance of an individual student – not accounting for myriad outside factors – is supposed to magically show whether that student’s most recent teacher was effective or not,” said ATPE Governmental Relations Director Jennifer Canaday at the time the lawsuits challenging the rules were filed.

ATPE Member Legal Services Director Donna Derryberry described the compromise struck this week as one that “will give districts more local control over their appraisal process” without being required to use VAM. “This is a great victory for all Texas teachers,” added Derryberry, “and ATPE is proud to have been instrumental in this settlement.”

]]>Thu, 04 May 2017 00:22:58 GMT7a85ca1e-4df3-429d-a04b-1d2ff1b4f7bathree great deals you don’t want to miss out on.]]>

Did you know your association offers services and discounts that can help you recoup the cost of your membership? Here are three great deals you don’t want to miss out on.

AAA Texas. ATPE has partnered with AAA Texas to offer our members a first-year discount on roadside assistance. As a AAA Texas member, you’ll be covered by their 24-hour Roadside Assistance in any car, SUV, or pickup truck, anytime, day or night, even if you are not the driver. And you can join for as little as $42.00 for your first year! (Non-members pay $72/year.) Association members also receive a discount on new Plus and Premier Memberships.

Health and Lifestyle Benefits. ATPE members now have access to a variety of health and lifestyle benefits! Check out our packages with access to Teladoc, vision and dental discounts, pet care services, and pharmacy savings!

Life insurance. ATPE members/spouse or domestic partner who are age 59 and younger are now eligible for life insurance through MetLife using a short form application. The form includes only five medical questions and asks for height and weight. If no further information is needed upon review of your application, then you’re done! It’s that easy.

Visit ATPE’s Services and Discounts page to learn more and to view our other great deals. With your ATPE membership, you can also get discounts on office or school supplies, travel costs, online shopping, and more!

Not an ATPE member? Become part of the largest educators’ group in Texas and get access to our Texas-sized benefits. Join ATPE today.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the state’s largest educator group.

]]>Thu, 27 Apr 2017 14:45:44 GMT216efb1d-4d33-49c2-98bc-85588e4367ae

Teacher Appreciation Week is almost here! Are you ready?

Administrators, what do you do usually to thank your staff during Teacher Appreciation Week? Breakfasts? Candy? Gift cards? Dress-down days?

Looking for some new ideas? Here are six outside-the-box ways to let your staff know how important they are to you.

Help them relax. Hire a mobile chair massage therapist to come to your school for a day. To avoid chaos, circulate a sign-up sheet beforehand, and make sure there are enough slots open for everyone.

Take them to lunch. You might not be able to take each of your staff members to lunch personally, but maybe you could take one grade level or teaching team at a time. They’ll appreciate both the lunch and the time with you. A smaller lunch provides a great opportunity to talk to your staff more directly about their classroom concerns and what you can do to support them. Knowing they have your ear and that you want to work with them to solve the problems they see every day will give them a much-needed end-of-the-year morale boost.

Take over their class. Could you and the rest of your school’s administrative team take turns subbing in teachers’ classrooms for 30 minutes so that staff can take a short, personal break? Choose a time when teachers have a preplanned activity scheduled, or plan a short activity of your own—read to students or use this time to get to know them a little better. If you’re in a bigger school, you can host a drawing, with the winners receiving a planned break from an administrator.

Get students to help. Encourage students to write personal thank you letters to their teachers and school support staff. Any educator will tell you that a thoughtful letter from a student is the most rewarding gift!

Consider a group gift. What does your staff need? A nice new coffee maker or a new comfy couch in the staff lounge? Could you redecorate or revitalize your break room? A thoughtful group gift that all your staff can benefit from is always a good idea.

Remember, a simple “thank you” goes a long way. One of the best gifts you can give your teachers is a heartfelt thank you. Everyone loves personalized notes, so if you have the time, write individual letters to teachers throughout the year to recognize their accomplishments and hard work. But if you can’t manage that that, a sincere, face-to-face “thank you” is a close runner up.

Teachers, what gifts would you most like to receive from your administrators? Leave your thoughts in the comments below! And keep your eyes open for a Teacher Appreciation Week giveaway coming soon from ATPE!

Keep reading the ATPE Blog for more great tips and tricks for Texas educators. Want to be sure you never miss a blog post? Follow us on Bloglovin’.

Not an ATPE member? Join Texas’s largest and most influential group of educators today!

]]>Tue, 25 Apr 2017 16:19:07 GMT72e9e283-5802-4997-adeb-299d598c16f8

The ATPE Book Circle Is Back! Looking for a fun new way to earn continuing professional education (CPE) hours from your own home? Try the ATPE Book Circle, an online professional learning community for ATPE members. With the ATPE Book Circle, you will discuss thought-provoking topics, connect with colleagues, and earn CPE.

Study and discuss timely education issues in an online forum.

Earn continuing professional education (CPE) credit on your own time.

Build and strengthen professional relationships with peers on your campus and across Texas.

Create solutions to a range of critical issues in your classroom and at your school.

Join us for these upcoming Book Circle sessions:

May 22-June 30Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess

July 10-August 18Uncommon Learning by Eric C. Sheninger

Visit ATPE Book Circle to learn more and participate in the first session beginning May 22, 2017, for eight hours of CPE credit.

]]>Thu, 20 Apr 2017 15:13:23 GMT30ecca6d-ef62-4fc1-86f5-57fbd8dc8f8c

ATPE’s early enrollment is now open. Join or renew your ATPE membership for the 2017-18 school year NOW, and you’ll be covered the moment school starts.

You can save now and pay later through our convenient payment options. Sign up for payroll deduction, bank draft, or credit/debit card installments so that you don’t have to worry about mailing a check each month.

First-time professional members will enjoy a generous discount – available for a limited time only! -- on their membership when they sign up early, too.**

You can also call us at 1-800-777-2873 and speak to one of our membership specialists.

Once you’ve enrolled, spread the word about ATPE’s superior benefits to your coworkers. We welcome membership from all public school employees.

*Eligibility, terms, and conditions apply.

**First-time professional members are educators who have never been a professional member of ATPE. The discounted rate ends Oct. 31, 2017.

]]>Tue, 18 Apr 2017 14:56:55 GMT8a2c5ad5-da0d-4483-a4a1-e58300cba5f5

I blocked an afternoon on my calendar with “PLAN NOTHING!!!” written in the space. Literally.

That’s what I had to type on the calendar.

I knew that if I didn’t write it, I wouldn’t honor it.

I knew I would give the time to someone else and be mad at myself and not able to recharge for the next few weeks.

Which was the plan.

And then a friend called.

Of course, she had an extra ticket and, of course, she wanted me to go with her. During my afternoon of PLAN NOTHING.

Of course, I said . . . no!

What? I couldn’t believe it even as I heard myself say the word. I turned her down.

Of course, I immediately felt terrible about turning her down. And, of course, I almost said yes, but, instead, I explained my no.

I explained that I needed this time to myself because I’d been really busy and was feeling myself coming to a breaking point. This is the point at which I’m angry with everyone and resentful of the work I love.

She was so supportive of the reason I said no. Much more supportive than I was myself.

Because we are in a service profession, we need to have times when we say no to others so that we can say yes to ourselves. Having the time to recharge allowed me to keep going on the many projects that I love and creatively got my ideas flowing again.

I’m off to put another PLAN NOTHING on my calendar again. Of course, I will need it.

Allison Venuto is an educator with 12 years of experience in the Dallas area and is the owner of Ducks in a Row Personal Organizing. You can contact her at Allison@DucksInARowDallas.com.

Become part of Texas’s largest family of educators today. Join ATPE now.

]]>Thu, 13 Apr 2017 14:47:49 GMT3c0f5ef6-6eff-498c-a92a-a33d6c85e081

On the first Earth day in 1970, I remember my first-grade class celebrating by picking up trash around our school. Now, almost 50 years later, we are still celebrating our Mother Earth on April 22 when the spring equinox begins.

Planetary exploration has become newsworthy again and puts our Mother Earth in the spotlight for preserving our climate, ecosystems, organisms, and species. Climate change, polar icecaps, greenhouse gases, poaching of endangered species—all of these issues are current topics for discussion and debate that elevate the young mind to a level of critical thinking where solutions, resolutions, and commitments are made.

Many schools and classrooms alike celebrate Earth and recognize our impact on our planet year round by having students participate in recycling teams or planting school gardens. To celebrate this year, here are a few of my favorite Earth Day classroom activities.

Take your classroom outside! Spend an hour or the whole day learning outside (weather permitting!).

Use art to engage students’ curiosity. Take a look at these beautiful, inspiring Earth Day posters from the 1970s. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then these graphics could be the launching platform from which a young mind makes resources preservation a lifelong value. If you’re an art teacher, have your students create their own Earth Day posters. If you’re an English/language arts, teacher, perhaps these posters could inspire a creative writing exercise.

Combine Earth Day with Arbor Day. Have your class plant a tree! Invite the local urban forestry board or arbor association. Contact a local nursery or look on the web for companies that will donate free trees to plant.

Take a field trip to the recycling plant. Have a representative show your students their sorting process and what is done with the materials collected.

Learn about landfills. Help students research how immense landfills are working to reduce methane emissions. Take a tour of your local landfill, and learn how they are working to reduce and recycle waste. Inform yourself of the role landfill regulations play in community improvement and development projects.

Create a 3D superhero. Use only recycled materials, and have students write about how their hero helps our Earth.

Turn the cafeteria into a “lab.” Make lunchtime an experiment in zero waste. Have students compete to see who can use the fewest napkins, leave zero food on their plate, no crumbs, etc., at lunchtime.

Participate in local Earth Day activities. Participation in group activities builds awareness and spreads communication among global citizens who care about our planet. This is also a great opportunity to teach students about community service and the value of their community.

Build a solar oven. You can use a pizza box to create your oven. This activity will help the class learn about alternative energy sources. Compare different variables, such as using newspaper or aluminum foil, to see how they affect the solar oven. Have students enjoy s'mores made from their ovens!

Create a project from recycled materials. Have students create something that would make their lives easier or more enjoyable. Here are some great examples:

Turn a recycled glass jar into a toothbrush holder. Students can paint and/or decorate.

Build a greenhouse from water bottles, bamboo, wire or string, and some Gorilla Glue!

Make quilt squares from old t-shirts, sew together, and donate the finished quilt to a shelter.

Check the code. Let plastic recycle codes inspire a lesson. Younger students can practice separating containers based on their numbers. Classrooms can also create a poster to inform the public about what can and cannot be recycled.

Calculate students’ global footprint. Use the online ecological calculator on the Global Footprint Network. This ecological calculator will tell students how many planets would be needed if every human lived the same way (for most Americans, it’s about five or six additional planets!). It breaks the “footprint” down into different impact categories, so students can quantify which areas of their life use the most energy/water/land (food, transportations, clothing, etc.).

TALK about it! When growing brains talk, expressive vocabulary imprints on the mind and science words and concepts become permanent thinking tools. Any of the activities on this list would be great fodder for a classroom discussion.

Watch a short film. Visit www.cainesarcade.com and learn how one young mind recycled used cardboard boxes and how it became a global phenomenon! Plan to participate in the 2017 Caine’s Arcade Cardboard Challenge.

Start a vegetable garden for your school. Plant the seeds and learn about sustainable foods. You could also start a compost bin in your cafeteria and use the compost for your vegetable garden.

Being able to tap into your students’ social emotional learning is a benefit to crossing curricular boundaries and synthesizing their artistic, analytical, creative, problem solving, and real-word engagement of issues with which they and their children will face. Whether inspiring a future eco-warrior or planting the seeds of commitment to habits of recycling, you, as their teacher, bring students to the table of information, exploration of ideas, and application of solutions that move our planet one step closer to health, longevity, and well-being.

This article is presented by the Science Teachers Association of Texas. It was written by Laura Lee McLeod, STAT president elect, with contributions from Linda Schaake, STAT member at large.

What apps do you use in your classroom? Are there any digital tools that you recommend to your colleagues?

Technology is becoming increasingly prevalent in the classroom, but unfortunately, educators don’t always have time to research the latest education trends. Don’t worry—your association is here for you! Check out this list of six exciting education tools we saw at SXSWedu.

If you’ve used any of these tools, let us know how they worked for you in the comments!

Brainly is a question-and-answer tool for the classroom. Students can submit questions or answer other users’ questions, or they can search the question archive for quick info on a topic. The site says millions of students from around the world ask and answer questions every month, and the estimated answer time is just 10 minutes. Brainly uses a point system to reward students for being engaged users and submitting accurate answers. Students can download the mobile app, so they can ask and answer questions in or out of the classroom. Best of all, this tool is completely FREE.

Bulb helps students create digital portfolios that they can access even after they graduate. Students can upload videos, images, or text to create collections of their work that they can use to apply to college or jobs. Educators can also use Bulb to publish lessons, or for their personal online portfolios. The site integrates with Google Drive, so moving stored collections over to the new platform is no problem. Users can sign up with a free account or pay $9/year for greater functionality.

The video collaboration site Flipgrid is essentially Snapchat for the classroom. Teachers add discussion topics, and students respond via video, both to the original question and to each other. For educators who have a hard time conceptualizing how their students would use this tool, Flipgrid provides ideas for how to integrate the program into a variety of subjects. One “grid,” or online classroom, is included in the free plan. An unlimited number of grids is $65/year.

The Smithsonian Learning Lab gives educators access to the Smithsonian’s wide array of online resources. A free account allows you to search the museum’s collections, create your own collections to use in the classroom, or share your personalized collections with students or colleagues. The resources included in this collection are from all of the Smithsonian’s 19 museums and the National Zoo.

The progress monitoring tool Sown to Grow provides a digital platform for teachers to set learning goals and communicate expectations with students. Students can use the tool set their goals, track their progress, and reflect on their work and areas of improvement. The goal is to help students become better at self-monitoring and to encourage a growth mindset. You can try out Sown to Grow for free for two months; after that, the price varies based on the size of your class.

Write Brain Booksturns students into published authors. Write Brain provides illustrated books, and students write the stories, either online or by hand. The site’s Author’s Guidewill help students think through the story and develop details. When the story is finished, students fill in their finished text online and order physical copies of the book. Author’s Kits, which include everything the student needs to complete the publishing process, are $43.99.

Keep reading the ATPE Blog for more great tips and tricks for Texas educators. Want to be sure you never miss a post? Follow us on Bloglovin’.

]]>Thu, 06 Apr 2017 18:13:30 GMTee91940f-cb7d-4a5d-ac0e-dd74212bb0f5

ATPE talks to Megan Marcus, the founder and CEO of FuelEd, a nonprofit that helps educators develop their social emotional skills. Marcus discusses how students’ emotions impact their learning and what teachers can do to improve their relationships with students and help their classrooms run more smoothly.

Can you provide a quick summary of what FuelEd is and how you help educators?

FuelEd is a nonprofit organization that was founded to fill a gap in educator preparation. Unfortunately, despite the importance of relationships to an educator’s day-to-day job and student success, most educator training focuses on content knowledge and instructional skills—never equipping educators with skills needed to build relationships that drive learning.

That’s exactly why FuelEd was founded: to improve student outcomes by equipping educators with the social and emotional competencies essential for building secure relationships in schools. We believe that if educators are equipped with essential social and emotional competencies—interpersonal skills, self-awareness, and emotional well-being—then they will remain in their professions longer and develop stronger, more secure relationships with students, parents, and colleagues. In turn, these relationships will drive students’ academic, social, and emotional learning.

We support educators in this journey through an innovative training process that combines workshops with group and individual counseling. FuelEd’s counseling allows educators to increase their emotional intelligence by exploring their feelings, needs, and social emotional challenges in the context of a safe, supportive relationship. Other benefits of counseling for educators include stress reduction, emotion regulation, and emotional wellness.

How do educators’ social emotional skills impact their ability to be effective classroom leaders?

Many educators see their jobs as not only preparing students academically but also developing the whole child. An educator’s own social emotional skills are a critical prerequisite and foundation to leading a classroom in this way.

Take, for example, an educator’s ability to communicate with empathy—a key social emotional skill. When a teacher responds to a student’s distress with empathic understanding, utilizing “mirroring” statements that reflect the students’ needs, feelings, thoughts, or problems, this in turn…

Helps the student self-soothe and self-regulate because empathy is calming;

Increases the students’ self-awareness of their own needs, feelings, thoughts, and problems because now they have words to put to their own experience;

Enables self-management and self-regulation (because empathy is calming, it puts us in a better state of mind to solve our own problems); and

Promotes right-left brain integration necessary for all learning processes, including those needed for reading, writing, critical thinking, and problem solving.

Like lock and key, an educator’s own emotional intelligence, emotional availability, and emotional capacity create moments of nurturance and care that catalyze a cascade of academic, social, and emotional learning for students. But even basic building blocks of strong instructional practice and classroom leadership are undergirded by the educator’s social and emotional skills. For instance,

To build a healthy classroom climate, an educator needs to be able to self-regulate when they are distressed, annoyed, angry or “triggered.”

To encourage student autonomy, an educator needs to feel secure enough in themselves and trust others to let go of control and allow student learning to unfold organically.

To differentiate student learning, an educator needs to have empathic understanding of the student’s strengths, needs, and challenges.

To respond to an upset parent, an educator needs to have self-awareness and other-awareness of what both the parent and they themselves need, and to be able communicate this clearly and calmly.

What does it mean for a student to be insecurely attached, and how can educators recognize this in the classroom?

Decades of research have shown that an early, secure relationship with a consistent, caring, and validating caregiver or parent provides the conditions for optimal learning and development. The result of these relationships is a “secure attachment style” in children. The proven outcomes of secure attachment include self-regulation, communication skills, emotional balance, flexibility, and the development of insight, empathy, and morality—all qualities we hope for in our children, our neighbors, and ourselves.

Unfortunately, because many of America’s students are born amongst community violence, family discord, and relationships that are unstable, abusive, or non-existent, they experience a state of stress that impedes learning capacities before even entering the classroom and form what is known as an “insecure attachment style.” Without the foundation created by secure attachments, half of all children enter the classroom with insecure attachment and are at a significant disadvantage in the classroom and in life:

With the lens of attachment, we hope educators can see the ways in which student (or staff) behavior is really just the tip of the iceberg. There’s much more beneath the surface, and in fact, all behavior is a form of communication. Even if someone’s behavior doesn’t make sense to you, remember they are trying to get their needs met in the best way they have learned how. Be attuned to the student and try to understand what their actions tell you about their attachment style, their early environment, and their present-day relationship needs. Knowing this, you will be better equipped to provide a model for what a secure relationship can be. After all, relational trauma can only be healed relationally.

How can teachers and other school staff evaluate their own social emotional skills to make sure they’re performing at their best level?

Use the list of secure and insecure attachment figure behaviors to assess your strengths and areas for growth. Are you really good at being consistent and predictable but quickly slip into shaming others when they do not meet your expectations? Perhaps it is easier for you to be warm and accepting of others, but you find it difficult to communicate your own feelings and needs in an open and honest way. Or maybe your relationship behaviors differ based on whether you are relating to children or adults. Some find it easy to listen and communicate using understanding and empathy with students but feel less accepting of the feelings and needs of adults (other teachers).

Start to self-reflect using this list and come up with practice areas where you can grow. Below are some more ideas for how you can begin to grow your own social and emotional competencies.

Understand Your Own Attachment Style. Educators are not blank slates. Like our students, we too have a history of relationships and our own attachment style, which shape our thoughts, feelings, and behavior in relationships with others. Educators who personally experienced secure attachments as children (with their parents or caregivers) are more likely to build secure attachments with students, while educators who experienced insecure attachments are more likely to build insecure attachments with students. Fortunately, research has found an exciting exception to this rule: When adults become aware of how their own attachment experiences shaped them, they are able to successfully build secure attachments with others, regardless of their early attachments. That’s great motivation to begin to better understand your own attachment experiences and attachment style today!

Know Your Triggers. The challenge and stress of teaching and leading in schools is well documented. What can we do when a student, parent, or colleague pushes our buttons, gets under our skin, and takes us off our game? Without understanding our triggers, our automatic negative reactions can create stress for ourselves and others, cause ruptured relationships, and contribute to a negative climate at our schools. Research shows we are likely to fall into a trap of repeating old relationship patterns when we are triggered. So next time you find yourself getting worked up or triggered, dig in to understand what about the experience was triggering for you. What were you feeling? What were you needing? Understanding your triggers can help you better regulate your reactions, communicate clearly, and respond appropriately to stressful situations so that you may create a well-being for yourself, others, and your school.

Be Empathic and Genuine. Two communication skills that are essential to building secure relationships are the ability to understand and communicate understanding of another’s perspective (empathy) and to understand and communicate your own perspective (genuineness). Start noticing when you are veering away from these healthy ways of communicating. For example, instead of listening to others to understand them (empathy), do you jump in to fix others’ problems for them, try to cheer up or reassure, or steal the thunder so the focus becomes you? Instead of sharing your own perspective honestly, do you instead blame, shame, or criticize? Do you dictate, preach, or threaten instead of communicating directly about what you are feeling, thinking, or needing? Becoming aware of your communication tendencies, especially when stressed, and practicing new and different ways of responding, can help you grow as a secure attachment figure.

Can you provide any additional resources for educators?

Below is a list of additional trainings for educators who wish to develop socially and emotionally.

FuelEd’s Leadership Institute is a three-day retreat-style learning opportunity for education leaders to develop the interpersonal skills, self-awareness, and emotional well-being necessary to fuel schools with the power of relationships. Ideal attendees are school leaders, assistant principals, deans, district leaders, or even teacher leaders who are looking to become better leaders by improving their ability to manage adult relationships, build healthy adult climates, and improve their self-care.

FuelEd’s Empathy School is a six-hour training that teaches educators the art and science of effective listening. Research shows that a more empathic educator is a more effective educator. Empathy School helps educators master the four components of empathy: taking others’ perspectives, recognizing emotion in others, staying out of judgement, and communicating understanding.

Visit the FuelEd Library, where you’ll find books and resources that span the science, skills, and self-awareness of relationships.

In addition to FuelEd’s training opportunities, there are other great programs out there that offer social emotional development for educators. Be sure to check them out! o Greater Good Science Center’s Summer Institute for Educators

Megan Marcus resides in Houston, Texas, where she serves as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of FuelEd, and is a recently elected Ashoka Fellow. FuelEd was founded in 2012 as a nonprofit organization with a mission to improve student outcomes by equipping educators with the social and emotional competencies essential for building relationships in schools. FuelEd believes that if we can equip educators with critical social and emotional competencies, then they will remain in the profession longer, and develop stronger relationships with students, parents, and colleagues that will drive students’ academic, social, and emotional learning.

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s post is from ATPE State Secretary Byron Hildebrand.

How and why did you get involved at a leadership role at ATPE?

When I first decided to run for office, it was as treasurer for my local unit. I went to Leader U and I saw there that as an educator, what I had to say was important to others. I saw that all educators matter. From there, my passion to work for my fellow educators and my students grew so much that I wanted to do as much as I could for education and ATPE.

What is your favorite part of being an ATPE state officer?

Serving educators in this association and this state is my passion. I know in my heart that most people will do the right thing. Some just need a little coaching.

How has being a state officer helped your region?

The members of my region know that I serve them as well as the rest of the state. I think that they appreciate the fact that one of their own is out there on the firing line working for all educators.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board or as a state officer?

Go for it. It is not the only way to serve, but as an association, we all matter, and we all have something to add.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

Yes, I just got married on Valentine’s Day 2017. I was in Austin on Sunday Feb. 12, working for ATPE, and left Monday at 1 p.m. to head back to San Antonio to get married at 12 midnight. My new bride was happy I made it back.

Teachers who have Federal Perkins Loans can apply for Federal Perkins Loan Program cancellation. Educators who work in special education, serve low-income students, or work in certain shortage areas (including math, science, foreign language, or bilingual education) may qualify for cancellation.

Keep reading the ATPE Blog for more great tips and tricks for Texas educators. Want to be sure you never miss a post? Follow us on Bloglovin’.

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On March 5, 2017, Superintendent John Kuhn spoke at ATPE at the Capitol, our popular lobby day and political action training event. Here is what he had to say:

I have three older sisters who are all teachers. When I became a teacher too in 1997, the first advice they gave me was, “You need go join ATPE.” And they never spent a year teaching without the legal protection and other benefits of ATPE. So I’m really happy to be able to be here and be a part.

Before I left this morning, I told my wife I was nervous. I’m going to speak to this huge crowd of accomplished educators from all over the state. She gave me some advice. She said, “Don’t try to be funny or smart or charming. Just be yourself.”

So there are a number of vital issues facing professional educators in the 85th Legislature, and your engagement is going to be so important. They are wanting to prohibit organizations like ATPE from having your dues payroll deducted. Why would they want to do that? Political reasons only. The members of our legislature want to make it harder for teacher associations to unite teachers as a political block that might oppose their agenda. Whether this bill passes or not, you need to respond by recruiting every teacher you know to join an association and every retired teacher you know to join an association. Your freedom to associate and engage politically is under direct threat and this isn’t a one-time deal. You have to see this bill for what it is: they are telegraphing their intentions. They are like that gremlins on the wing of the plane in the old Twilight Zone movie, ripping the wires out of the engine. They want to silence teacher voice in the political arena until there’s no one left to defend the public education system from the privatization schemes that have gripped the nation.

The sense of urgency must increase, and increase quickly, if you and I are to save public schools in the state of Texas. And not just in Texas, but in this nation. The great American experiment of free public schools, open to all children and overseen by locally elected citizens—this bold vision is being challenged by an army of wealthy and interested parties who are dead set on dismantling the public education system and trading it for a voucher system.

But before we get to vouchers, I want to note that there are other challenges facing us this session. The Texas Supreme Court called our school funding system Byzantine and called on the legislature to fix it. Just yesterday, two former state commissioners said at a symposium that the state is badly underfunding education and that it is negatively impacting student learning. On testing, STAAR was a rolling disaster last year, we still give more tests than the federal law requires, and we still ship millions of tax dollars to ETS and Pearson. And we have an A-F system that by design passes out WAY more Fs than As. And the odds of your school getting a bad grade goes up dramatically as the average income of your residents goes down. As I’ve heard superintendent friends say, “the A stands for Affluent; the F stands for Free Lunches.”

But it all really comes down to vouchers. This has been the end-game the whole time. Going back through the decades from TABS to TEAMS to TAAS to TAKS to STAAR, it was never about assessing student learning. It was always about smearing teachers and manufacturing a crisis. Vouchers were always a solution in search of a problem, and the test-and-punish industrial complex arose to create that problem. In reality, testing has always shown us the same thing, always. Well-off and middle-class American public school students academically outperform kids from private schools and kids from other nations, when matched socioeconomically. And poor American kids outperform poor kids in those other countries and in private schools, when matched socioeconomically. It is only when you lump all the kids together—because we have so many more poor kids testing than the systems they compare us to—that American public school results look bad. It is a trick. We don’t have an educational problem. We have a social inequality problem that politicians and privatizers dress up as an educational problem. And this statistical sleight of hand, this deliberate misdirection has one goal: to justify the need for vouchers and the dismantling of public education as a state responsibility.

The voucher movement is about money and adult interests. It isn’t about children. It’s not even mostly about parents who want a discount on their private school tuition; it’s mostly about the interests of other adults, very wealthy adults. It’s about the interests of tycoons and political players who are funding school voucher campaigns across our state and nation, not because they want to improve schools but because they want to engineer a cheaper education so their property taxes will go down. They want to hobble teachers’ unions and reduce wages and benefits. And on top of cheapening a system that already has one of the lowest levels of per-pupil spending in the nation, Texas privatizers also want to make money on the back end, they want a piece of the education pie, which billionaire school choice advocate Rupert Murdoch said was a $500 billion dollar industry just waiting to be “transformed.” He meant to say “hijacked.”

They don’t really want a piece of the education pie. They want the whole thing. They want to convert a public good into a private enterprise. They want to take this public education system that was created by wiser and more selfless people long ago as a public trust, that belongs to the people—controlled by voters engaged in the Democratic process, free to attend, and open to all children—this is the vision of public education as we know it, and this is what is facing an existential threat.

Texas voters and Texas lawmakers have rejected vouchers over and over again. But the voucher lobby cynically repackages the idea under new and confusing names. Let’s call vouchers “opportunity scholarships.” The voters figured that out, time to change the name. Let’s call them “education savings accounts.” Let’s call them “school choice.” Let’s rebrand them over and over until everyone is thoroughly confused and doesn’t realize they’re voting for vouchers. The Dallas Morning News had a better term for vouchers in a recent headline: “Private School Vouchers are the Fool’s Gold of Better Education.”

Fool’s gold. Pyrite. A worthless material that is just shiny enough to trick the uninformed into believing that it has value. That’s exactly what vouchers are, even if you call them something else. And why would you call them something else? Why would voucher advocates feel the need to trick people by rebranding their pet policy?

Maybe it’s because vouchers are a terrible idea. Maybe they change the name because the research is in, and it’s clear: vouchers just don’t work. In fact, research shows unequivocally that vouchers don’t just fail to make student achievement better; they actually make student achievement demonstrably worse. Vouchers aren’t the civil rights movement of our time; they’re the civil wrongs movement of our time, hurting the children they pretend to help. Three different research studies published recently have found that voucher programs harm student learning—including one study sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation and the Fordham Institute, both proponents of vouchers. Students who use vouchers underperform their matched peers who stay in public schools.

You heard me right. I’m not just saying that vouchers don’t help very much. I’m saying voucher programs result in students learning less than if the voucher programs didn’t exist. Giving a student a voucher to improve his education is like giving a struggling swimmer a boulder to help him swim. The Walton Foundation study said, “Students who use vouchers to attend private schools have fared worse academically compared to their closely matched peers attending public schools.” A study of the voucher program in Louisiana found very negative results in both reading and math. Kids who started the voucher program at the 50th percentile in math dropped to the 26th percentile in a single year. Vouchers are so harmful to children that a Harvard professor called their negative effect “as large as any I’ve seen in the literature.”

Vouchers should come with a surgeon general’s warning like cigarettes. The third study was of a voucher program involving over 10,000 students in Indiana—where our vice president was governor—and it found this: “In mathematics, voucher students who transfer to private schools experienced significant losses in achievement” and show no improvement in reading. Vouchers are not only not helpful—they’re harmful. And they are not only harmful—they are more harmful than any other educational initiative Harvard researchers have ever seen. They are the educational equivalent of smoking cigarettes to treat lung disease. And the voucher lobby treats research exactly like the tobacco lobby does, by paying think tanks to generate copious amounts of pseudo-science and internet content to try and generate support for the harmful ideology behind their business venture.

In the face of this data showing indisputably that vouchers make things worse for struggling students, why then are vouchers still the big focus this session from so many Texas and Washington political insiders? It’s simple really, and sad. It’s because the voucher push isn’t about student performance at all. That isn’t what this is about. It’s about money in the pockets of adults. Vouchers are not, never were, and never will be about kids.

That’s why they get upset when anyone challenges them. Did you see the recent video of the state senator berating a roomful of teenagers who had had the audacity to suggest that voucher schools should be held accountable for their finances and their academics in the same way that public schools are? He told the students they were selfish for standing up to bad policy.

By the way, accountability is the Achilles heel of voucher proponents. They can’t explain why private schools receiving voucher funds shouldn’t be held accountable for financial integrity through audits or be accountable for student performance through an A-F system.

A voucher is a voucher is a voucher. These aren’t scholarships or grants. They’re taxpayer dollars that are preemptively captured and rerouted before they can get into the state treasury to support schools, to pay for private school tuition. Or to pay for homeschooling expenses.

That’s what scares me the most. Everyone who teaches knows that there are two kinds of homeschooling families. There are the ones who really homeschool, and they’re great. They teach their kids actual curricula, and those kids do great and learn a lot. And then there are the other families, the ones who have discovered the homeschooling law in Texas to be a giant loophole, a get-out-of-school-free card. My guess is half the homeschooling students in Texas are really just dropouts, but their parents figured out they could sign a letter claiming to homeschool and they wouldn’t get dragged to truancy court. Fake homeschooling is an epidemic that our legislators are aware of, but they won’t talk about it, and now they’re getting ready to subsidize it. My guess is that 75 percent of Texas kids who withdraw to homeschool for the first time when they are in high school are really just dropouts. These are the kids who don’t like the dress code or who got in trouble for nonattendance and who wear down their parents until they withdraw them to quote-unquote homeschool. These are kids who wander the streets during the day with nothing to do, nowhere to go, they can’t get a job, they just know they don’t want to go to school and get in trouble for not doing their work or not following the rules. So there is already an incentive for fake homeschooling among many struggling families, and now Texas senators want to give you a $5,000 check if you will homeschool your child? This is a very bad idea if you care about the future of our state.

The public education trust is an investment in the children of the state—ALL the children—an investment that was demanded in both the Texas Declaration of Independence and the state Constitution. That trust built a system that was here before any of us, that has served our state by educating the vast majority of us for many generations—and that trust fund is the target of these voucher schemes. It is shameless and it will do real harm to real children and degrade the future of our state by compromising the quality of education Texas kids receive.

In the days of Santa Anna, Texas settlers were confronted with a corrupt leader firmly in the pocket of a plutocracy that refused to pay taxes to support schools for the rabble. This led our forebears to rebel, and to list prominently among their grievances in the Texas Declaration of Independence these important words: the government “has failed to establish any public system of education, although possessed of almost boundless resources, (the public domain,) and although it is an axiom in political science, that unless a people are educated and enlightened, it is idle to expect the continuance of civil liberty, or the capacity for self-government.”

So I ask what is worse? A government in 1836 so blind to the needs of its citizens that it failed to create a system of public education, or a government in 2017 so deeply held hostage by cronyism and corruption that it is actively, session after session, year after year, trying to dismantle a system of public education that has already been created, a system that was built by the treasure and efforts of many selfless generations of Texas taxpayers and teachers, a system that has expanded since 1836 to cover every square inch of the state, to educate every Texas child who wants to be educated, for free, children of every race and color and creed, regardless of ability or disability, regardless of which side of the tracks they were born on, regardless of their home language or any other personal characteristic. Public schools are for the children. Vouchers are for cronies and conmen. When rich elites refuse to invest in the education of the children of the poor, they sow seeds of disenchantment that eventually unravel the social fabric. They don’t realize what a dangerous game they play.

The public education movement was and is and will always be about the interests of poor and middle class children and families who see education as their path to a more prosperous future. The voucher movement is about funneling tax dollars to schools that have the right to exclude kids that don’t fit their mold. Voucher schools will have academic entry requirements to keep out the riff raff. Voucher schools will have behavior contracts to keep out the riff raff. Voucher schools will have parent volunteering requirements to keep out the riff raff. The voucher schools will have fees for extracurricular activities, fees for books, fees for uniforms, fees to keep out the riff raff.

But they aren’t riff raff. They’re children, and they are all welcome in our public schools.

The voucher movement rests on a foundational lie that the free market will sort good schools from bad when parents choose. But this is smoke and mirrors, because they have no intention for the marketplace of schools to be truly free. The voucher movement wants to create a system in which public schools give STAAR tests—lots of STAAR tests—but the voucher schools give none. That’s not a free market. That’s the government picking winners and losers. And the voucher movement wants public schools graded with A-F grades based on those STAAR tests, but it doesn’t want the voucher schools graded on the same A-F scale, because A-F grades for schools are based on the STAAR tests that voucher schools will never ever be required to give. School vouchers are not a free market, they are the government picking winners and losers and guaranteeing that the winners will be private schools that are exempt from the crushing bureaucratic regulations that our state and federal governments have heaped upon the state’s public schools for decades.

It is a cynical ploy, a corrupt, self-serving campaign. Vouchers are not about children, they are 100 percent about adult interests.

And school choice is not really about giving students their choice of schools. The best private schools cost over $20,000 per year in tuition. The state is talking about giving out $5,000 vouchers. That won’t get poor kids into leafy green academies, it will get them into pop-up franchises that some of the voucher lobby’s largest donors are going to launch all over the state. It will get them into online for-profit schools where one teacher at a computer will “teach” 400 kids clicking through modules online, and we will all pretend this is an education, that this clicking through modules is preparing those kids to be engaged, civically minded, well-rounded citizens.

I’m just going to say that a real education should look a lot like real life, with flesh-and-blood encounters with teachers and classmates, face-to-face interactions with diverse friends and neighbors, conflicts and shared lunches, recesses and sports teams, student councils and class officers and mums and bonfires, parades down main street led by the band, and news clippings in the gas station about a buzzer-beater win. Letter jackets and class rings, kissing in the stairwell, loud stereos in the parking lot and quiet tears in the counselor’s office. This is the hum and rattle of community, the pulse, the heartbeat of our neighborhoods. This is public school.

Public schools are about the children. Public schools mold the future when they educate our kids, and they always have. When our politicians brag about how great Texas is and how strong the economy is, remind them that it was public school teachers, not politicians, who built Texas, and we built it by educating 95 percent of the students in this state.

The voucher schools will exclude those hardest to teach, because there’s no law to prevent it. And they will teach any old curriculum, because there is no law to prevent it and no test to see if the voucher students are learning Texas’ Essential Knowledge and Skills. Voucher schools will get state education dollars, but they will refuse accountability. They’ll say competition is their accountability, but it’s a lie because the public schools will not be allowed to compete freely in this market, the public schools will be set up to fail, the public schools will be saddled with STAAR tests and requirements to admit children with learning disabilities and behavior problems, while competing with completely unaccountable, unregulated voucher schools. This design is the deliberate sabotage of the school system our ancestors fought and bled and died to establish, the deliberate sabotage of a field of civil service that employs hundreds of thousands of decent, hard-working Texans who have devoted their lives to serving the future of this state.

The voucher movement is a repudiation of Texas history and Texas values, a naked violation of the state constitution. Public schools are the state’s way of saying we will educate our children, all of the children. Vouchers are the state’s way of saying we will educate some of the children, some of the time. Unless voucher schools are required to admit all children and are prevented from discriminating against special needs children in their admissions, and unless voucher schools are accountable to the public for the financial and academic performance, then vouchers are just a broken constitutional promise, an embodiment of Texas politicians’ disdain for the needs of regular Texas families.

It’s a great scheme if you can stomach it. If our senators will pass it, there are some folks who will make a killing, who will line their nests with tax dollars while playing school. And public schools that serve all kids will slowly wither on the vine. This brave, selfless, centuries-old experiment in practical democracy will end. This honorable notion that we as Texans should put our resources together in a trust for our children, all of our children, will die.

The foxes are funding the voucher campaign, funding the mailers, funding the politicians, funding the think tanks. The foxes are scratching at the hen house door, and Texas politicians have their hands on the handle, ready to let them in, to let them devastate taxpayers and schoolchildren.

Vouchers are about adult interests, and voucher schools are about exclusivity. But public schools are about inclusivity, and public schools are open. They’re open to poor kids, open to the disabled, open to the homeless, the migrant, the dyslexic, open to all children. They’re open to kids of all colors, all ethnicities, all creeds and language backgrounds. Public schools are open, and public schools are owned and operated by the Texas voter and the Texas taxpayer.

Our ancestors only won the right to establish a public school system because they were willing to fight for it, to demand it for their kids and for the health and well-being of Texas. This threat to public schools is the clearest sign yet of the disdain that exists in elite quarters for the needs of common middle class Texans.

If we won’t fight, we will lose public schooling in the state of Texas. If we won’t write and call and march and clog the offices and phone lines of our elected officials with righteous calls for funding and protecting the public school system, then the foxes will devour what was established for Texas children way back in 1836.

If not you and I, then who will do it? We have to step up and defend our children’s education. We have to leave here today and call on everyone you know to get involved. Call your friends, the mothers and fathers you know and tell them to join TAMSA and Friends of Texas Public Schools, tell them to donate to Parent PAC, call your pastors and tell them to join Texas Pastors for Children, tell them to get on the front lines and save our schools, save our towns and communities, call the retired teachers, call everyone you know, and tell them if they don’t fight for public schools, then we will lose them. Hand out your senators’ phone numbers, and tell them to call every single day. Call during your conference. Call during lunch. Call from the parking lot, and have your spouse call too. Go to their town halls and ask the brave, direct questions. Why shouldn’t private schools be held accountable? Don’t their graduates impact the state’s future? How do we know if they’re learning anything?

Ask them direct questions when you visit them in their offices. Why not hold voucher schools accountable? And if they say the free market is how they intend to hold voucher schools accountable, then why have STAAR and A-F for public schools, if they are competing in the same market? They can’t have it both ways. Tell them that. Don’t be scared. If anyone should be afraid, it should be Texas senators. They need votes to keep their jobs. Ask them why it’s okay for voucher schools to have academic entry requirements that keep out learning disabled kids when public schools can’t do that. How are we supposed to compete fairly?

And share ATPE’s legislative priorities with them when you visit their offices:

Preserve the solvency of TRS and protect our defined benefit system from those who want to turn it into a glorified 401k.

Give teachers the right to payroll deduct their association dues, as a matter of freedom of association.

Fix school funding and make it fair and equitable.

Reduce testing.

And most of all, protect the public school system from privatization through programs like vouchers and education savings accounts (which are really just vouchers with lipstick on).

Thank you, educators, for all you do for our children and our state. Don’t lose hope, and don’t forget this: There are over 300,000 teachers in Texas, and there should be over 300,000 teachers voting in every election, including primaries. And there should be more retired educators like Representative Gary van Deaver running for office. Our state needs you. If you unite and stand together and use your teacher voice, Texas teachers are a force that can’t be stopped.

Thank you.

John Kuhn is a Texas school superintendent and long-time advocate for public schooling. His essays have been read hundreds of thousands of times online, videos of his speeches have gone viral, and his book, Fear and Learning in America, has sold thousands of copies. He continues to advocate for teachers and fight for the constitutional promise of free public schools for all American children.

The Spring 2017 edition of our award-winning magazine is now available online now.

In this issue:

What the Texas legislature is doing to try to silence educators’ voices—and how YOU can stand up for your rights

Can empathy be taught? Austin ISD’s social emotional learning program teaches emotional competency in the classroom.

State Representative Diego Bernal on how to address Texas educators’ biggest concerns

Quick calming activities for the classroom

How Dan Rather hopes to improve education in Texas

From TABS to STAAR: A history of standardized testing in Texas

Chess is teaching Brownsville students valuable life lessons

Everything you need to know to make the 2017 ATPE Summit a success

As always, you will also see what other ATPE local units have been up to and learn about ways the association is continuing its mission of making a difference in the lives Texas educators and students!

Our Brain Break this issue features a word find. Check your answers, and email your completed photo to comm@atpe.org by April 10 for a chance to win an ATPE-branded prize!

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For supporters of Texas public schools, reading the news can be overwhelming. State legislators continue to push for vouchers and to restrict educator rights. School funding and educators’ healthcare and TRS benefits are constantly under attack.

That’s why the ATPE Political Action Committee (ATPE-PAC) supports pro-public education legislators. Ensuring that Texas has legislators who support public education helps ATPE fight for quality educational standards and protect your professional interests.

Our members’ voluntary donations to ATPE-PAC are used to make bipartisan contributions to officeholders/candidates who have demonstrated support for public education and ATPE philosophies. A donation to ATPE-PAC is an investment in Texas public schools and their students.

Want to change public education headlines? Start by donating to ATPE-PAC.

NOW is a critical time to donate. Our annual PAC’s Peak Challenge goal is to raise $25 000 by May 1. The election season will soon be here, and to fight our best for you at the Capitol, we will need a healthy fund. Start by donating to ATPE-PAC.

ATPE-PAC solicits contributions only from ATPE members, employees, and their families. Participation in ATPE-PAC is voluntary. Members can contribute any amount or nothing at all without affecting their ATPE membership status, rights, or benefits.

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Field trips are an exciting way to expose students to new experiences and increase student interest and engagement in science. But they can also be daunting to plan! These six tips will help you plan an unforgettable field trip for your students—with less stress for you!

Make sure the trip is applicable for the age, grade level, and needs of the students. When planning a field trip, make sure you consider the needs of your students. Plan a field trip that is challenging enough to retain their attention, but not so challenging that they will lose interest. Make the experience fun by choosing a site with hands-on activities and interactive learning. Make sure the field trip is appropriate for all kinds of learners, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.

Connect the field trip to the current content or unit of study. Choose a trip that connects what students are learning in the classroom to real-world experiences. For instance, if you are studying sedimentary rock formation and soil, take the students to a quarry so they can see first-hand and connect. If students do not come to your classroom with the schema you desire, create it for them!

Plan ahead! Careful planning of any field trip will help avoid disasters and lead to a successful event. If possible, conduct a pre-visit to scout the site. It is best to get to know the area so you will be able to quickly locate the restrooms, water fountains, picnic areas or food locations, and accessibility sites for physically challenged students. Look for the spots that will create the most connections to your lesson and create those teachable moments.

Prepare your students before the trip. Prepare pre-visit activities that you can do with the students prior to visiting. Get a map of the location and share the site with students. Explore the location by visiting the site’s website. Review safety rules for outdoor field trips. Cover the content beforehand, and give the students content questions that they should be able to answer after the experience.

Prepare yourself before the trip. Make a list of materials that you will need, such as name tags, first-aid kit, cell phone, and emergency contact numbers. Plan for manageable groups and send a note home to request the parent volunteers needed for the trip. Do all the paperwork on time!

Plan a follow-up activity. Plan an activity that will tie classroom learning in with the field trip. The activity should help reinforce everything the children have gained from the field trip experience. Make sure you follow up with your content questions!

Celena Miller teaches science at Cesar Chavez Elementary in Pharr-San Juan-Alamo. She won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science in 2016.

What are your top tips for field trips? Share your planning ideas and favorite field trip spots in the comments below!

]]>Tue, 14 Mar 2017 14:43:42 GMT75f2439f-26fc-4a59-9db2-0774731b7976

At a party a few years ago, I met a new teacher and we struck up an easy conversation in that when-you-put-any-two-educators-in-the-room-together-we-will-start-telling-stories kind of way. I asked how her year was going and she shared stories about her students.

Lack of a sufficient budget for her classroom came up and she lamented the amounts she regularly spent on her classroom. I smiled and said that the first year is always the most expensive. Also, I reminded her that she should be keeping her receipts for tax time.

“Tax time?”

“Yes,” I responded, “In the state of Texas, educators are able to deduct a certain amount of classroom expenditures on our tax returns.”

She looked dumbfounded and, I could tell, was mentally calculating all that she’d spent on her room this year.

I told her to talk to her tax professional for more details, and I offered some ideas about what I do.

Tips for classroom spending:

Set a budget for the year. I determine an amount for the school year and do not exceed that out of pocket. If I find myself without needed supplies, I get creative.

Buy in August. Anticipate what you and your students may need throughout the year and purchase with back-to-school sales.

Keep all receipts. I keep my receipts in an accordion file with one section marked “school.” Even if you’re gone over the allotment, keep the receipts in case they come in handy at a later time.

We know that teacher burnout is a large reason talented educators leave the classroom, and we should not add to that the financial stress that can come from outfitting a classroom. Planning ahead for tax season can help.

Allison Venuto is an educator with 12 years of experience in the Dallas area and is the owner of Ducks in a Row Personal Organizing. You can contact her at Allison@DucksInARowDallas.com.

]]>Thu, 09 Mar 2017 14:38:12 GMTbcfb59eb-623e-41a6-a827-d9bac5080402

ATPE is proud of our diverse members and the hard work they put into educating Texas children! In this new Member Q&A series, we will showcase members from across the state. Today’s post features Paula Franklin from Galveston ISD.

What is your job title? Where do you work?

My title is special education instructional specialist for Galveston Independent School District. I work with all grade levels, and I am beginning my fourth year with the district. I train our staff on special ed software and programs, and I work in the classroom with the teachers and assist them in a variety of areas. I also work with our district curriculum team, bilingual and testing departments, and our Section 504 personnel. Because we are such a small district, we wear many hats in each department and we are a “hands on” administration.

How long have you been an ATPE member? Why did you choose ATPE?

I began my teaching career in 2008, after a 10-year career as a paralegal. I have been an ATPE member since then. I chose ATPE because I have a bachelor’s degree in legal administration. I knew I wanted representation that had immediate access to an attorney. Education law is very tedious, and I knew I wanted the best.

I never thought I would need the assistance of ATPE, but when I did, I worried about nothing. In the end, I came out on top and I was thankful for effective counsel. After that issue, many of my coworkers switched to ATPE because they had some similar issues, and saw the results.

Shortly after that, I switched districts and became an ATPE ambassador. Eight years later, I am the secretary of the Galveston local unit. This summer was my first ATPE Summit, and I loved it! We have a great team here in GISD.

What made you want to be an educator?

After 10 years in the law field, I grew tired of the same thing, day after day. I thought back to when I was working with kids at summer camp, and how much fun it was, and I decided to go back to school and become a certified teacher. I wanted to be able to spend time with my nieces and nephews instead of preparing for trials. I decided to get double certified in both general ed and special ed at the same time. Three years later, I found myself in graduate school. That decision led me to where I am today. It is the best decision I have ever made.

What advice would you give to a new educator coming into your position?

The advice I would give is to NOT stress about things you cannot control. For people with type A personalities like me, this is very hard. We are schedulers, and we need things done in a certain order. That isn't how education works. Also, take time to attend all the conferences and staff development that you can, and gain knowledge from others in the field. Don't be afraid to try something new.

What is your biggest hope for the future of Texas public schools?

My biggest hope is that public education will become important to our legislature. I am not a fan of vouchers or charter schools, and I never will be. These schools are often run by businesses, or private entities and are not subject to the same regulations or licensing as public schools. Students with disabilities are often not admitted to these schools, and in public school, we educate all students within our district boundaries, no matter the cost. Allowing vouchers to be used, and funding to be directed to private schools, takes more money away from our public schools. We have already seen major reductions in per-student spending across the board. It is time for our legislature to fight for the children of our state, and move away from the personal agendas. I’d like to know how many legislatures have children that are or were educated in Texas public schools. Perhaps then the line in the sand would be more clear.

I want our state leaders to respect educators and provide what our students need, regardless of what area a school is in. I look forward to being part of ATPE at the Capitol in Austin this year.

What is the most important thing educators can do for their profession?

The most important thing is to stay informed about what is happening in the legislature. Don't wait for things to be handed down to you—call your representatives, make your voice heard. We were victorious in lowering the number of STAAR tests our students must take to graduate high school. That was a direct result of educators and parents standing up for our students.

What’s your favorite Texas vacation?

My favorite Texas vacation is floating the Frio River and going to Garner State Park. I listened to many of my friends’ stories about their trips, and Jonathon and I finally went two summers ago. There is something so serene about crystal-clear water, no phones, and no wi-fi. Both of our careers are fast paced and stressful at times. When you are at Garner, it is truly a time to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. There is nothing like it in the world.

Share your favorite moment as an educator.

My favorite moment as an educator… whew that is a tough one. I have so many amazing memories. I believe seeing my first group of student’s graduate was momentous. Although they are now adults, they will always be “my kids.”

A very close second was the first-ever Special Olympics Banquet that we threw for our team in Galveston last year. We revamped our team last spring and came home with 44 medals and ribbons. Watching our students be celebrated for their achievements at the Spring Games, instead of being told what they can’t do, was incredible. I will never forget seeing them walk, or roll, into their banquet dressed in their Sunday best.

I am truly blessed to love what I do for a living.

For more member stories, follow ATPE on Facebook and Pinterest. If you’re an ATPE member and you want to share your story, email comm@atpe.org for Member Q&A guidelines.

]]>Tue, 07 Mar 2017 16:21:15 GMTbdce0692-0e17-4033-99f5-a43c070f07ef

Struggling with mid-year stress and testing woes? Check out these four short ATPE courses that will help you organize, unwind, and stay focused. Each of these courses is one hour or less, so they won’t take up a lot of your ever-dwindling free time. Plus, they’re completely FREE and are a great source of CPE hours!

1. Preparing for STAAR & EOCs

This webinar is presented by teaching masters Stephanie Stoebe and Jeremy Wagner, the 2012 and 2013 Texas Teacher of the Year award winners. Stoebe and Wagner share tips, strategies, and ideas that will help you prepare for STAAR.

2. Being Good to You: A Self-Care Guide for Teachers

Feeling stressed? This webinar by Dr. Adam Saenz provides practical strategies to help you unwind. These self-care tips are targeted directly to educators, from a psychologist who understands educators. Saenz, who has made a career out of empowering teachers, will help you understand what a healthy you should look like—and how to get there. See his popular book, The Power of a Teacher, and his ATPE News column, “Stress Doesn’t Have to Be the Enemy.”

3. Communicating for Results

Did you know that 85 percent of our success is attributed to our ability to effectively communicate and maintain healthy relationships? This course, presented by organizational communication expert Anne Grady, will help you learn more about each communication style. Learn how to communicate effectively with your students and fellow educators to become more efficient in and out of the classroom. You will be able to apply the skills, tools, and strategies learned in this session immediately!

4. Classroom Procedures

Every teacher knows that when students feel comfortable in their learning environment, the classroom will run smoother. In this course, professional organizer and educator Allison Venuto will teach you how to create and reinforce classroom procedures—so you can save time for teaching instead of classroom management. Venuto discusses concrete ideas that you can implement in your classroom today.

Want more CPE? Check out ATPE’s Professional Learning Portal for more great, short courses that will help you learn the skills you need to succeed in the classroom—all FREE for members.

]]>Thu, 02 Mar 2017 15:12:06 GMTfd1f4ddd-eaac-41c3-8eff-add55c1a78d5

Being a substitute is not an easy job. For substitutes to be successful, they must feel confident and professional in the classroom. These seven tips will help you provide an easy transition for teachers, students, and substitutes.

Leave clear lessons. Think carefully about the kind of work you leave. Students should be able to complete their assignments without much teacher input. Also, keep instructions for students with accommodations in a brightly colored folder with your lessons for easy recognition.

Print a class roster. Whether you use a traditional seating chart or flexible seating, a roster with pictures is best. Substitutes can easily tell students apart. Also, consider leaving name tags for students. Mailing labels are cheap and efficient to use.

Have clear expectations. Refresh substitute expectations with students before you are absent and leave them for the substitute. To really help with expectations, print out ATPE’s classroom management strategies for your folder.

Rewards, Rewards, Rewards. Prepare substitutes by leaving different types of rewards. These could include anything you use for your positive behavior system. Consider leaving stickers or even small candies. Students respond to rewards.

FIRE! Remember to include emergency information, relevant policies, and your team teacher’s name. Be sure and convince your team member to pop their head in throughout the day to check on your class.

Spotlight ATPE. ATPE has provided substitute teaching tips on their website. Print these ahead of time for your substitute folder.

Join the team! Leave an ATPE application along with a thank you note to let substitute teachers know they are valued professionals who make a difference in schools. ATPE wants to be their ally and their voice, too!

Rose Kelley is a fourth-grade teacher and model classroom leader in Amarillo ISD, where she has worked for six years. In addition to being named Teacher of the Year for her campus last year, she serves as the Amarillo ATPE vice president.

]]>Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:09:18 GMT365dd6e5-41f2-4e73-bc23-710ec5fec048

According to a new poll from the University of Texas/Texas Tribune, most Texans do not support siphoning public school funds into private schools via vouchers. The poll looked at respondents by region and found that although 39% of urban parents support vouchers, only 32% of suburban parents and 34% of rural parents do.

Rural and suburban areas typically have fewer private and charter school options, so voucher proposals are less practical in those communities.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has stated that vouchers are one of his top priorities for the current legislative session. If passed, Senate Bill 3 would allow parents to use tax dollars to pay for their children to attend private or home schools.

One of the major criticisms of voucher proposals (also known as “education savings accounts” or “tax credit scholarships”) is that they disproportionately benefit students from higher income families. Vouchers provide parents with only a portion of the amount they need to send their children to public schools.

Learn more about how vouchers are faring this legislative session by reading our blog at TeachTheVote.org.

]]>Fri, 24 Feb 2017 16:55:29 GMT24ed7207-abde-41e1-8b41-074ede58de01

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s post is from Region 8 Director Jimmy Lee.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

I got involved in ATPE years ago when I was asked to be a campus rep. From there, I started attending both local unit and regional meetings. I enjoy talking to teachers about ATPE and what it offers them as an educator. I quickly found after becoming a campus rep that our ATPE family of educators is a special group. Over the years, I moved into local leadership and regional leadership by serving on the board of trustees.

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

My favorite part about serving on the board of directors is working side by side with fellow educators statewide to discuss and vote on policies and procedures that have an impact on this organization. I enjoy listening to the discussions we have at our board meetings. Even though we come from different locations across the state, we have many common goals. We are all proud of our profession and what we do, and will do what we can to help defend our, and our students’, rights. We are also proud of ATPE and what it represents, and are honored to be serving in this capacity. We know that our decisions have an impact on our membership, so we do what we can to carefully think through an issue before we move forward.

How has being on the board helped your region?

Being on the board has allowed my region to have a seat at the table. When it comes to voting on issues that may have an impact on my region, I vote the way they would want me to vote. We are a small region, but we are very active and involved at both the regional and state levels. I am both proud and honored to be their voice at the state level.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

I would advise anyone who has a desire to know more about ATPE to consider serving on the board. It is amazing to hear the good things our staff is doing for us. At the board level, you get to vote, discuss, and have an actual hand in the process of helping decide which policies and ideas are best for our members. It is a great experience.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

I am a very competitive person. If I play you in something as simple as a game of checkers, I am going to give it my all to win. In high school, I competed in baseball, football, and basketball. Early in my education career, I coached basketball and football—I loved it! Another fun fact—I am left handed. Keep your thoughts to yourself on this one... Some say this explains a lot about me—I beg to differ.

]]>Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:30:30 GMT093beff3-ea77-401d-b681-25e2bb584919

Are you fired up? We are! And we certainly are and hope you are, too, because ATPE’s popular lobby day and political involvement training day is just around the corner. Hundreds of ATPE members from across the state will be making their way to Austin for this exciting event.

Our general sessions on Sunday, March 5, are an ideal way to learn about the top education issues facing our state while also earning CPE credit. The speakers are set! Our opening session will feature a fantastic special guest speaker, Superintendent John Kuhn. Our closing session will feature an influential panel of legislative leaders, including chairs of the education committees, lined up to discuss and take your live questions on education bills being considered this session.

During the event, attendees will also get an opportunity to network with hundreds of their colleagues and support ATPE-PAC by purchasing promotional items that will be sold, including long- and short-sleeved ATPE at the Capitol polo shirts, pins, bags, and more. Once Sunday’s training has wrapped up, ATPE will provide complementary bus transportation between the Renaissance Hotel and the Domain, Austin’s hottest new venue for restaurants, nightlife, and shopping. Buses will also provide easy transportation to and from the Capitol on Monday.

On Monday, March 6, attendees will put their training into action and descend upon the Capitol to lobby their elected officials on ATPE’s legislative priorities. ATPE is scheduling all meetings with state senators for that day, but attendees are reminded to set up their own meetings with state representatives before they come to Austin.

Please check out our complete agenda plus the latest schedule for senate meetings. The schedule will be updated as new meetings are added between now and March 6.

NOTE: If you did not get a chance to register to attend ATPE at the Capitol, limited onsite registration will be available at the Renaissance Austin Hotel starting Sunday, March 5, at noon. Contact government@atpe.org for additional information.

]]>Tue, 21 Feb 2017 15:32:14 GMTa5272fb5-ab1d-4a6a-b950-0d93f61cb931

Are you a lesson plan guru? Is your classroom management tip top? We want to know your secret! Share your skills with ATPE members at the 2017 ATPE Summit!

The Association of Texas Professional Educators is accepting professional learning session proposals for our 2017 Summit in Austin, Texas, on July 10-12, 2017. ATPE strives to provide the most relevant, timely, and engaging professional learning sessions at summit. We recognize that our members are our most valuable resource, so we are providing YOU a unique opportunity to share your knowledge!

This proposal process is a competitive one. We expect to receive many more proposals than the session spaces we need to fill. You must demonstrate in your proposal that your session fills a vital continuing education need for our membership.

All accepted session proposals will be scheduled on Tuesday, July 11, at the Austin Convention Center. Presenters must be available to present their session on that day at the time assigned by ATPE.

The submission deadline is Weds, March 8, 2017, at midnight. All proposals must be submitted via this form or typed in the exact same format. All submissions must be typed. Please follow the directions at the top of the form for submitting your proposal by postal mail or email.

Professional development session proposals will only be accepted from active ATPE members.

Submitting a professional learning session proposal does not guarantee that your session will be included in ATPE’s 2017 Summit program.

]]>Thu, 16 Feb 2017 16:56:06 GMTc0ebbf24-a53f-4956-9a9f-b4cf8b9415bf

Parents can be one of your greatest classroom allies. Make sure your communication with them stays positive throughout the year with these six simple tips for parent communication.

At the beginning of the year, contact every parent with a positive note, email, or phone call. This doesn’t have to be elaborate. A simple email or note home to set the tone for the year will be worth the effort. Knowing their child is important will make the more difficult calls that may happen later in the year easier for parents.

Be mindful and purposeful in all you say and write. Irritation shows even over the phone. Take a breath before you speak and map out what you will say in your mind before you make a phone call. If you’re communicating over email, remember you cannot take back something that is written. Start emails with empathy and show appreciation for parents who want to be involved.

Surround your desk with positive mementos. When you send emails or speak on the phone, look around your desk for positive inspiration. These mementos should be things that remind you of your value and the value you bring to your students. Examples include:

Inspiring plaques (my favorite is a gift from administrator: “Speak kind words and you will hear kind echoes”)

Anything that makes you smile

Don’t forget that every time you communicate with a parent is a new opportunity. Take the time to tell them about parent night, news from your school, or any local activity they may find useful.

Be an active listener and reflect what you hear. Remember to really listen when you speak to parents and respond to what they actually say. This may sound simple, but it takes effort to actively listen and reply to what is said—not just what you thought they were going to say.

Collaborate with your peers. You are part of a team, and your colleagues are some of your greatest assets. Talk to your peers about the most effective ways they have found to communicate with parents, and share your own tips. Discussing the experiences you have had with specific parents may also provide you with background information that will help you have a more productive conversation. However, be sure to enter each conversation with a clean slate. If others have had bad experiences, don’t let those color your interactions with parents before they even get started.

Cheryl Drews is the records clerk for Irving ISD. She works with parents over the phone, in person, and via email on a daily basis.

Is there a topic you’d like to see ATPE Tips and Tricks cover? Email comm@atpe.org with suggestions.

]]>Tue, 14 Feb 2017 15:55:22 GMT3b0173d2-4689-4408-8119-4e1cf02389c6

Two new anti-educator bills are up for debate at the Capitol. These bills unfairly target teachers by attempting to restrict how educators pay dues to join professional associations, which lobby for your rights and your students’ rights at the Capitol.

The stated purpose of these bills is to get government out of the business of collecting association dues, but if that’s really the intent, why are some groups—even some unions—exempt? Under these bills, fire, police, and EMS workers would still be allowed to pay union dues via payroll deduction.

Why are these bills unfairly targeting educators? Lawmakers have heard your voice, and they know that educator associations like ATPE are what stop them from cutting your pay, taking away your contract rights, or making it harder for you to provide individualized instruction to students. Legislators and business leaders who want to privatize Texas schools and dismantle TRS know how powerful educators can be when they work together, and they want to silence you.

Don’t let them win! Speak up now to make sure groups like ATPE that fight for Texas schools, teachers, and students continue to thrive.

In this edition of our series on the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS), we’d like to address some of the questions, concerns, and misunderstandings that have arisen over the new teacher evaluation system. As you’ll learn below, some of these are myths, some are fact-based, and some are a more complicated combination of the two.

Do all teachers have to be evaluated using the T-TESS?

No, they do not. The Texas Education Code does require that teachers and certified administrators be evaluated, but the T-TESS is only one evaluation option. The T-TESS was developed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and approved by the commissioner of education. It replaces the Professional Development and Appraisal System (PDAS), which was developed by the TEA and approved by the commissioner of education in the late 1990s. The Texas Education Code allows a district to use either the commissioner-approved evaluation system OR a locally adopted system. Approximately 90 percent of districts statewide used the PDAS. We do not know how many districts will use the T-TESS, but we expect that it will be fewer than used the PDAS for a couple of reasons:

The T-TESS appears to be more controversial than the PDAS, so we expect more districts to choose a local option.

Do student test scores have to be a part of a teacher’s evaluation under the T-TESS?

No, they do not. The Texas Education Code has for many years required that teacher appraisals include “the performance of teachers’ students” as a component of the evaluation. The T-TESS requires that districts use one of four methods of judging student test scores:

Student learning objectives (SLOs);

Student portfolios;

Pre- and post-test results on district-level assessments; or

Value-added data based on student state assessments.

The commissioner has authorized locally created and adopted appraisal systems as long as these systems also use one of these four methods. However, these rules may change and no longer apply to locally adopted appraisal systems.

The fourth option, which uses value-added measures (VAMs) of student growth based on state assessment scores, is the most controversial, since experts have stated that state assessment scores do not accurately reflect teaching quality. It is also less likely that a district would use this option because individual districts have to pay to develop their own system to interpret value-added data, and this can be very expensive.

Some larger school districts do already have VAM data built into their own evaluation systems and may continue to use those. More districts may use evaluation criteria that differ from T-TESS requirements, especially with the rapid growth in the number of districts becoming Districts of Innovation and opting to exempt themselves from the law.

Does the T-TESS take more work and time than the PDAS?

Yes. The T-TESS has substantially more required documentation built into the process, so it will take more time than the PDAS did for both teachers and appraisers. This begins with the required goal-setting document but continues to one degree or another with each step of the process. The concern over the time devoted by both teacher and appraiser was raised by representatives of ATPE and other organizations during the development process.

The time component is only amplified by the fact that teachers receive higher ratings (distinguished and accomplished) based on documentation of their plans and performance. The Goal Setting and Professional Development Plan is also considered a “living” document requiring continuous revision depending on student feedback/success, appraiser feedback, and teacher development.

Is the T-TESS designed to make teachers look less successful?

The concern that the T-TESS was intended to make teachers look less successful is largely based on the change from the PDAS’s four performance levels (exemplary, proficient, below expectations, unsatisfactory) to the T-TESS’s five performance levels (distinguished, accomplished, proficient, developing, and improvement needed). Rumors swirled during the introduction of the T-TESS that “developing” would be the new “proficient,” the default score for a teacher who was doing all that was expected. This may have stemmed from the fact that the T-TESS was designed with the philosophy that teachers, as professionals, should constantly improve their skills as they gain experience, so the great majority of teachers would be “developing,” meaning they were still improving.

The T-TESS rubric provides specific descriptors that fall into each dimension within the four T-TESS domains. Performance that would rate a “proficient” score under the PDAS should rate a “proficient” score on many dimensions under the T-TESS, as well. However, in some cases, what would have been “proficient” for a criterion under PDAS is more similar to “developing” for a dimension under the T-TESS. We will have to wait to see what actual appraisers do.

Will my T-TESS score affect my salary or whether I will get a raise?

Possibly. The T-TESS rules do not address salary or performance-based raises. However, a school district is not prohibited by state law, TEA rules, or the commissioner’s rules from developing a local policy that ties compensation to appraisal scores. In fact, a few districts around the state have begun to tie scores to salaries and raises. Most commonly, school boards give raises only to teachers who score a certain way on the previous school year’s evaluation. Since it is a local decision, it’s important for teachers to know their local policies.

Check back on the ATPE Blog as the year progresses for more T-TESS tips. For more information, see our T-TESS Resource Page. For more T-TESS articles, see Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of our Navigating the T-TESS series.

ATPE members are the best people to tell Texas lawmakers about what's going on in Texas schools. Make plans now to attend our lobby day and political involvement training event, ATPE at the Capitol, happening March 5-6, 2017, in Austin. This is your chance to speak directly with lawmakers and tell them what's important to Texas educators!

The opening general session will feature special guest speaker John Kuhn, superintendent of Mineral Wells ISD and a passionate advocate for Texas public schools. Kuhn received nationwide publicity during the 2011 legislative session for his creative approach to a message to legislators about planned cuts to the education budget. His “Alamo” style letter to lawmakers was published in The Washington Post and widely shared. Kuhn has also written multiple books about education policy and the outsized role of standardized testing. The closing session for ATPE at the Capitol will consist of a panel discussion with legislators, including Sen. Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood), who chairs the Senate Education Committee. The Houston-area lawmaker is beginning his third regular session as a member of the Senate, and he previously served 10 years in the Texas House of Representatives.

There is no registration fee for this event, and travel incentive funds are available to certain eligible ATPE local units and members. The deadline to register online is TOMORROW, Feb. 3, 2017.

Find housing and transportation information, program information, and resources at ATPE’s Advocacy Central page. (Members must log in to access this page and register for the event.) Follow our legislative blog at TeachTheVote.org for ongoing updates during the 85th Texas Legislature.

]]>Thu, 02 Feb 2017 15:22:07 GMTb6660d9c-9dd1-4100-a80b-78a793bb083b

This legislative session, ATPE has reported on a number of bills that are dangerous for public schools and Texas students, including those that would support vouchers, eliminate payroll deduction options, and harm educator groups like ATPE.

Reviewing the list of potential threats to Texas education can be overwhelming, but banding together and taking a stand for public education can make a difference. We magnify our voice through phone calls, personal letters, and visits to legislative offices—often the most powerful way to influence lawmakers and easier than you think. As ATPE Lobbyist Mark Wiggins explains, the key is to be calm, respectful, and prepared. Mark explains that every type of communication can be broken down into a few simple steps:

Go to Advocacy Central to find your legislators’ names and contact information. You can also find background information and talking points on ATPE’s legislative priorities, plus direct links to key bills being debated this session.

Identify yourself as a constituent and educator.

State the bill or issue you’re calling about and explain why it’s important to you. Make sure they know why this is personal. Example: “I’m concerned about Senate Bill 13, the ban on payroll deduction. It’s the safest and most convenient way for me to be a member of my professional organization, which is not affiliated with any national labor union. I feel like we’re being attacked for being teachers, and it’s unfair.”

Ask for a commitment. Example: “Will you oppose Senate Bill 13?”

Thank them and leave your contact info.

For those who can drive to Austin, there are also opportunities to testify at committee hearings, although ATPE’s lobby team cautions that public testimony is typically limited to two or three minutes and may occur in the middle of the night. ATPE Governmental Relations Director Jennifer Canaday explains that during session, committee hearings often get delayed until after the full House or Senate has finished its business on the floor that day. “As deadlines loom in the latter months of the session, committee agendas get jam-packed with bills, and the public testimony on those might not begin until very late at night,” Canaday says. Committee meetings last as long as it takes for all bills on the agenda to be heard, and it’s not uncommon for hearings to proceed overnight, wrapping up early the next morning. “Many lawmakers encourage educators to come share their input on bills,” says Canaday. “But it’s hard to expect teachers to pull an all-nighter sitting in a committee hearing room on a school night, waiting for a chance to give three minutes’ worth of testimony.” For teachers who can’t make it to the Capitol, it’s reassuring to know that ATPE’s lobbyists are always there to protect their interests and keep members informed about the actions taken.

ATPE’s advocacy blog at TeachtheVote.org is where you can find announcements about on upcoming bill hearings and after-the-fact reports on what took place in those hearings. It’s also an excellent resource for ATPE members and the general public to keep up with the latest education news and updates on legislative and regulatory developments both in Austin and Washington, DC.

And ATPE members can still register for our popular lobby day and political involvement training event, ATPE at the Capitol, through Feb. 3! Held in Austin on March 5-6, 2017, ATPE at the Capitol is your chance to speak directly with lawmakers and tell them what’s important to Texas educators! Register today!

]]>Tue, 31 Jan 2017 16:49:58 GMTe7191478-e038-4333-bd06-fd93d3a08130

Did you know that Advocacy Central offers ATPE members rapid access to your elected officials? Our grassroots platform makes it quick and easy for members to contact legislators about issues of concern. Right now, we're featuring advocacy campaigns to help you share input with U.S. Senators on the controversial nomination of Betsy DeVos to become U.S. Secretary of Education, and campaigns to promote ATPE's priorities for the 85th Texas Legislature, like saving payroll deduction and saying no to vouchers.

Advocacy Central automatically links you to your elected officials from right at home in your own zip code all the way up to the Oval Office. We provide background on issues at stake, plus talking points or sample messages you can modify or send "as is" to your legislators with just a couple of mouse clicks. You can search for any bill at the state or federal level, or read about key legislation that tops ATPE's watch list.

Grassroots communication is essential to the success of our advocacy program. Lawmakers want to hear directly from you – educators who live and vote in their own districts. If ATPE members don't speak up, voices on the other side of these issues will fill the void. Don't let those outside the education field determine what happens to your profession, your classrooms, or your students. You are the expert when it comes to public education, and your voice needs to be heard! That's why ATPE has worked hard to create tools that make communicating with your lawmakers as painless as possible.

Please explore Advocacy Central. Here are examples of what you can do today with only a few minutes of your valuable time:

Call or write to U.S. Senators Cornyn and Cruz about the confirmation of Betsy DeVos. Share your own words, use our preformatted scripts for phone calls or electronic messages, or go with a combination of the two. It's your choice!

Send a message to your Texas legislators asking them to oppose bills that take away educators' right to use payroll deduction for their ATPE dues. A sample phone script is also provided. These are some of the most offensive bills that have been filed, aimed clearly at silencing the voices of educators and discouraging them from being politically active. Lawmakers need to hear from you on how harmful and meritless these bills are.

Better yet, find out if your senator or representative is one of the authors of the payroll deduction bills. We've got a message you can send them asking why they would want to pursue such unnecessary legislation to interfere with how educators spend their money.

During National School Choice Week, lawmakers are being flooded with calls, letters, and personal visits from those who want the government to give away public tax dollars for private school vouchers and home schools instead of funding our public school system. ATPE members have long opposed all forms of vouchers. If you want legislators to consider both sides, then send a message today letting them hear from you, too! We've put the tools for this right at your fingertips.

We'll continue to highlight major issues and education bills on the move, but remember that you can use Advocacy Central to look up any bill and communicate with any of your elected officials at any time on any issue. It's quick and easy! If you need help, reach out to the ATPE Governmental Relations team at government@atpe.org. Thanks for helping our ATPE lobby team fight for your priorities!

Please note: You must be an ATPE member to log in to Advocacy Central. For further instructions on how to create your ATPE web account, please click here.

]]>Mon, 30 Jan 2017 15:50:16 GMT0e92e3fe-1c76-4829-8878-1e86573a4190

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from our staff members. Today’s post features ATPE Lobbyist Kate Kuhlmann.

What drew you to working at ATPE?

ATPE was a perfect career fit for me in many ways. I am passionate about public education and the profession that ATPE members have chosen. My parents are two of those members, and I have watched them affect many lives because of their commitment to public school children and exceptionalism at their craft. I am so proud to work every day on behalf of them, my many friends and family members that work in public education, and all of the other educators that make a significant daily impact on Texas public schools and the students within them.

How long have you been working at ATPE? What was your first job here?

I began working with ATPE in 2008 when I joined a Texas law firm that did contract governmental relations for ATPE in Texas and Washington. I continued working with ATPE doing federal advocacy when I moved to Washington, DC, to work for another law firm. That firm had since begun working with ATPE (and still does!) as ATPE’s contract governmental relations team covering federal policy. It was in 2014 that I officially began working at ATPE as a lobbyist. So I’ll say that I have been working with ATPE for over eight years and at ATPE for three!

What is the most important thing you have learned while working here?

The effectiveness of educators when they get involved as advocates for their profession, students, and local public schools. As we are in the early weeks of another legislative session and the very beginning of a new administration in Washington, the importance of on-the-ground educator advocacy is at its peak. Proposals that would affect your school’s funding, your students’ access to great public schools, your retirement, your rights, and so much more are all on the move and accompanied with plenty of support in the Texas legislature and in Washington. It is an honor to spend my working hours fighting on your behalf while you do the important and difficult work of educating our school children, but using your voice to support that work is invaluable. My colleagues and I will do all we can to amplify your voice and ensure it is heard, but we can’t replace the value of your direct involvement when it really counts–I assure you the impact is huge!

What is your favorite part of working for ATPE?

The people! There is a special place in my heart for educators, and I work with some of the most competent and fun colleagues. The people I get to work for and with are good and impressive people from whom I continue to learn. That is pretty great.

Share something fun about yourself that members might not know.

I have immense love for my alma mater, Texas Tech University, and the San Antonio Spurs…or maybe that isn’t such a surprise to those that have spent any amount of time in my general vicinity!

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the largest educator group in Texas.

]]>Thu, 26 Jan 2017 15:09:15 GMT182c9fb7-8bd4-4411-88d1-81835dfe0877

Do you have a friend, colleague, or family member that could benefit from ATPE’s superior services? Now is the time to spread the word about ATPE! Professional, first-time professional, and associate membership categories close Jan. 31, 2017. Teacher trainee/student teacher, college student, retired, and public membership categories remain open beyond Jan. 31.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the largest educators’ group in Texas.

]]>Tue, 24 Jan 2017 15:47:38 GMTaeaa1e8a-e0c2-480e-b51d-0b0283274336

During the 140 days of the 85th Texas Legislative Session, the 150 representatives in the Texas House and 31 senators in the Texas Senate will determine many of the day-to-day details of the practice of our profession in the classroom as well as its funding. In many of these legislative districts, the largest group of potential voters by profession is public school teachers. Most of our legislators are attorneys or businessmen, with only a few experienced educators. They need our guidance, even if they do not admit it.

Developing a relationship with your legislator is exactly like developing a friendship with someone you would like to know. You need to meet that person face to face, share pleasantries, and then visit about things you have in common.

When you participate in ATPE at the Capitol on March 5-6, you are taking the first step toward developing a positive connection with the legislator who represents you at the Texas Capitol. But advocating for public education doesn’t just happen on March 6. Hopefully, you have already started connecting with your representative and senator.

Come to Austin March 5-6 and let the experts on the ATPE Governmental Relations team hone your skills. They will explain ATPE legislative priorities for this session. They will teach you ways to advocate for your profession and the students you teach.

And when you leave and go home, there will still be 90 days of the 85th Legislative Session for you to continue to advocate for public education with emails, letters, phone calls, and possibly more visits face to face with those who represent you in Austin.

Join me in representing our profession. You can make a difference for Texas education. It all starts with your registering now!

There is no registration fee for this event, and travel incentive funds are available to certain eligible ATPE local units and members. The deadline to register online is Feb. 3, 2017.

Find housing and transportation information, program information, and resources at ATPE’s Advocacy Central page. (Members must log in to access this page and register for the event.)

Gayle Sampley is the Humble ATPE legislative chairman. She is a retired elementary behavior teacher from Humble ISD with 24 years of experience.

]]>Thu, 19 Jan 2017 15:37:14 GMT921dc034-0da1-438f-b1b9-1f3ed549bcb5

Helping your students reach their potential is about more than providing the right lessons and assignments. Developing a positive classroom culture will go a long way toward helping your students feel comfortable in class and increasing their opportunities to learn.

Here are seven tips for improving your classroom environment.

Schedule time for sharing. Having a weekly “check in” time with students, where everyone is given the opportunity share something about themselves, such as what they did over the weekend, is a good way to help them get to know each other—and you—better. Just be sure to make sharing optional, so that students never feel pressured to share if they don’t want to.

Encourage students to take ownership of the class. Allow students to help decorate the classroom. Also, consider providing students with a few different options for projects, and get their feedback before you make your final assignments. Allowing them to voice their opinions will help them feel more invested in their work.

Make sure students understand the real-world relevance of your subject. Communicating the real-world applications of assignments will increase student motivation and contribute to the overall positive classroom culture.

Create classroom guidelines. It’s important not only to have guidelines but also to discuss them at length with your students. Post these rules someplace where students can easily see them, and remind students of them frequently. Guidelines should cover how students interact with each other, and should help students feel comfortable expressing themselves or asking questions without fear of embarrassment.

Use social media as a class. Giving students something to work on as a group, such as maintaining a class Facebook page or blog, will help create a sense of community. And as a bonus, it serves as a great way to keep parents informed. For more tips on how to use social media as a class, see our Tips and Tricks: Social Media blog post.

Consider incorporating flexible seating.Research has shown that flexible classroom design can improve student learning outcomes, and it’s another great way to help students feel comfortable and take ownership over their classroom. See our Tips and Tricks: Flexible Seating blog post for ideas.

Show your passion for your subject matter. Students will be able to tell if you’re truly engaged with your subject matter, and if you’re not, it will affect their attitude in the classroom. Don’t be afraid to “geek out” with your students. Tell them what things thrill you about your subject, share new research or news in your field, and let them know how passionate you are about teaching them, too. Your attitude will be infectious!

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the state’s largest educator group.

]]>Tue, 17 Jan 2017 15:26:18 GMTd236352a-13d5-46ba-8493-d0efa1f19cb6

On Jan. 6, the Texas Education Agency released a new A-F grading system to rate school performance. Since we allegedly don’t educate people like we should, they had to dumb it down to letter grades because the terms “met standard” and “improvement required” are too difficult to understand.

The commissioner states that these grades are provisional and a work in progress. Yes, they are. There are five domains, and they went ahead and released the grades to the public without the fifth domain completed.

Now, mind you, this is all from one test, one day out of the entire year. For those of you who chose a different career, let me break this down for you:

I teach 126 kids.
11 are English language learners.
9 have learning disabilities.
83 are minority.
45 are low-socioeconomic.
I am supposed to teach 81 items called TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills).
If I am lucky, I will get 131 hours with them to do all of this.

Now, I am not complaining about any of that. I will teach and love any student who walks in my room. But I want you to have a glimpse of what my classroom looks like.

STAAR was implemented in 2012 and is an extremely difficult test. So, every year, Texas likes to brag about their rigorous test, and then the scores are awful so they lower the passing rate. So instead of 70 being a passing score, it is a 46. So when we say 96 percent of our students passed, they very well could have made a 47. In other words, the data are ridiculous. They threaten to raise the passing standard every year, but don’t do it because then we all look stupid. And no one, even legislators in Austin, likes to look stupid! What is even better is that they set the passing standard after the tests are graded. They have actually lowered the passing standard and then bragged that more students passed the test. It reminds me of the production standards described in George Orwell’s 1984.

So, we teach a ridiculous number of TEKS, not knowing if they will ask 1, 3, 7, or no questions at all over that topic, and hope we teach it in the way they worded it on the test. One year I taught eighth-grade US History, which covers the time from colonization to Reconstruction and they didn’t ask a single question over the Revolutionary War or the Civil War. Not a single question out of 52. They asked four over the Monroe Doctrine. Go ahead and Google it…I’ll wait.

These new A-F school grades are based on the results of the 2016 STAAR test, which, if you remember from previous news stories, was a nightmare. There were missing tests, many tests were sent to the wrong places, one school had their boxes delivered by some guy in a pickup who found them on his front porch, some questions did not have a correct answer choice, many tests were incorrectly graded by the testing administrator who was paid billions of dollars by taxpayers, and tens of thousands had their completed online tests disappear into cyberspace.

Using the old system, 94 percent of schools “met standard” but the new system has only 10 percent making an A. How is this possible? Are we really ALL average? I don’t think so.

What concerns me most is that these grades are public knowledge, and we have a number of public officials who are in favor of school choice and the voucher program. Many schools that these vouchers will support do not have to take these tests and can pick and choose which students they accept. I guarantee most of those classrooms do not, and will not, look like mine. They will look like a better school than mine, and that just simply isn’t true.

So, let’s role play shall we? I am Mrs. Reed, your teacher. You are my student. I try to teach you all I can, but you were absent a couple of days, I don’t cover something like I should have, or you just didn’t comprehend it. I give you one test the entire year. There are five sections. You complete all five sections, but I am only grading four. You complete the test, I lose it and make you take it again, three questions don’t have a correct answer choice, I grade it wrong, and although you have always moved on to the next grade before because you met the standards created by the school, congrats, you get a D. And it will have no explanation attached and it will be on the Internet for everyone to see. Good luck getting into college now!

The abovementioned scenario is for every student, no matter their background. There are those students learning English for the first time who must take the exam in the English language, there are those students with learning disabilities who must take the exact same test as everyone else except for a bigger font, and there are those students who have family and personal issues that greatly affect their ability to perform and have no second chances because this is all about that one test day. We are cheating them and creating an environment of failure.

What this one-day test cannot show you is what high schools really offer. We all learned a lot in high school and I am thankful to have done well in college. I thank my teachers at both levels for being amazing. But I also learned things that have really made me successful, and those things cannot be found in a book—leadership, compassion for others that are different than I am, sports medicine, agriculture, a love for the arts, budgeting business/group, interview skills, etc.

Education is not a test. It is an experience, and you just can’t grade experiences because the variables are too great. So is the outcome.

So what can we do about this problem? Ignore these stupid letter grades, trust that 95 percent of teachers are doing an unbelievable job with our children, realize the state’s data is inaccurate and misleading, and elect new legislators next time around!

Krysta Reed is a social studies teacher at Andrews High School in Andrews, TX.

]]>Thu, 12 Jan 2017 17:04:18 GMTa8668791-a486-4a3b-945a-4617945b9189

Purchase your registration badge for the upcoming SXSWedu Conference and Festival before the Jan. 13 discount deadline to save $100. SXSWedu takes place March 6-9 in Austin. The event features four days of compelling content for education professionals, industry leaders, and policymakers looking to connect, collaborate, create, and change how we teach and learn.

In addition to being a part of education innovation through collaboration, creativity and action, Texas educators who attend SXSWedu can certify for CPE credits through ATPE! That means you can earn valuable CPE hours while enjoying inspiring sessions, interactive workshops, hands-on learning experiences, film screenings, and more!

Texas educators often don’t know what legal protection they receive from their district. ATPE debunks some of the myths about your district’s support in facing legal complaints against you.

Myth: My school district will automatically defend me should I need legal defense.

Fact: Not all school districts carry liability insurance, and if they do, the policy may exclude your particular scenario. For those districts that have policies, each one could be different and the policy details are often unobtainable. The provisions of district policies are subject to negotiation and may be written first and foremost to protect the school district at the expense of the employee.

In addition, school district employees may not be clear about how to report claims on their own in the first place. They are completely at the mercy of the district’s legal counsel or superintendent, who may not inform them of all their rights.

In contrast, ATPE readily provides policy details to members and non-members, so you can see exactly what you’re getting for your membership.

Myth: My district will defend me if I have a legal concern.

Fact: School districts may not provide coverage unless the district is named as a defendant in the lawsuit. There are many scenarios where the district would not be named in the lawsuit but the district should still provide a defense.

It’s important to remember that the district’s interests and your interests as an employee are not always the same. Districts want to protect themselves from harm and are often willing to sacrifice the employee, particularly if there is public or parental pressure.

Myth: My school district’s policy provides all the legal support I need.

Fact: Districts do not provide any employment, certification, or criminal defense coverage. With ATPE, your benefits include both excess liability coverage, ensuring that someone is representing your interests as an educator in case your employer fails to defend you. AND you have employment rights defense in the event you encounter an employment conflict with your district.

If you happen to need a criminal defense lawyer (and you don’t have to break the law to need a lawyer!), he or she will require a sizeable retainer—regardless of how little work they wind up doing.

Myth: I don’t need to join a professional organization. My district will take care of me.

Fact: Your district may discourage you from joining a professional organization by telling you that their policy will cover you, but if there is a conflict, you may not wind up on the same side as your district. You need someone to look out for your interests. ATPE has encountered many large school districts that refuse to provide a defense for their employees who were sued in their professional capacity.

Myth: I don’t need career protection. I’m not going to do anything wrong.

Fact:You don’t have to do anything wrong to need protection. Working with minors on a daily basis puts educators in a risky position. Accidents happen to everyone, and many educators have been falsely accused of things that require legal defense.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the state’s largest educator group.

]]>Thu, 05 Jan 2017 20:10:32 GMT91873bbb-42a6-4660-9df6-8142b5d8ddb4

Starting a club for students is a great way to provide a special place for students to belong and to encourage them to build relationships with their peers. Here are eight tips to help you start a student club.

Talk to students about their interests. This will help you decide what kind of club to lead. If a lot of students are talking about how they love to play chess, maybe chess is the club you need to start.

Advertise your club in a creative manner. Invite a few students who have shown interest to help you create posters, make announcements, and write emails to students AND parents. Also, communicate daily to your students that you are starting the club and personally invite them to join.

Provide snacks for students who show up on the first day. To encourage students to attend the first meeting, offer popcorn and juice drinks (or another snack) to all students who show up. It is probably not a good idea to publicly announce that you will be offering food and drinks, or you might have every student in the school. Announce it a bit more casually, but to almost every student that you see in a day. Trust me, the word will spread.

Define the club’s purpose and goals. It would be very easy to just start the club, have the kids attend, and “wing” it. The club will be much more purposeful if you actually gather the students who are interested and collaboratively develop the club’s purpose and goals. The students will take ownership of the club if they have helped develop its backbone.

Communicate regularly with parents and students. Over the years, I’ve found communication to be one of the best tools for a successful club. Reach out to parents! Send a “special” invite out to their child. Send a “Save the Date” or a creative and fun email promoting the club.

Develop a meeting schedule. Another key ingredient to success is to have a regular days and times to meet every week. If the dates change often, students will not know when to plan on attending. If they know the club meets every Monday from 4-5 p.m., it will be on their weekly radar.

Assign duties. This is important even if you are just hosting a chess club or something similar. Have a voting process in place to name a president or possibly a fun leader name such as “Chief Chess Guy.”

Plan events. For example, contact the local senior citizens’ home and arrange your chess students to come once a month to their location so that your students can enjoy the company of the senior citizens. The seniors will get a lot out of this, but your students will get even more! If that doesn’t work out, be creative and plan a different event.

Making sure students feel valued and cared for is the key factor in building a successful club. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed—just jump in! The most important thing is helping student build relationships.

Carrie Becker is a middle school technology education teacher and yearbook adviser in Lewisville ISD, where she has worked for 18 years. In addition to being named Teacher of the Year for her campus this year, she was honored as ATPE’s Secondary Educator of the Year in July 2016.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to be part of the state’s largest educator group.

]]>Tue, 03 Jan 2017 15:27:16 GMT994f643b-3bbc-47fe-93d2-db6a8ebba132

ATPE talked to the Texas Homeless Education Office about the challenges of educating homeless students in Texas public schools and what teachers can do to help.

Approximately how many students across Texas are affected by homelessness?

In the 2014-15 school year, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) certified the count of 113,294 students in Texas public schools as homeless. This is the most recent school year for which we have verified data. Texas traditionally has either the second or third most identified students, behind New York and California. The number of identified homeless students has increased over the years, due to financial instability, natural disasters, medical and other hardships, and better methods of identification by school districts.

What are the signs of homelessness that school staff should look for?

Many students are identified at the time of their enrollment though a housing survey called a student residency questionnaire. The questionnaire is given to all students, new and returning, every school year. Many students who were in the district the previous year may have lost housing over the summer break, while some students who were homeless the previous year might have found permanent housing over the summer and are no longer in a homeless situation. However, many students may become homeless during the school year. These students are more difficult to identify. They may not have completed a housing survey. They may be embarrassed or afraid to let school staff know about their situation. They may not realize they meet the US Department of Education definition of homeless and thus do not self-identify. School staff, including classroom teachers, should be trained to spot the signs that a student might be in a homeless situation. Some of these signs include:

Tired, sleeping in class, lack of energy

Poor hygiene

Wearing the same clothes day after day

Inability to concentrate

Doesn’t turn in homework assignments

Doesn’t complete special projects

Is frequently tardy or absent

Comes to class “unprepared”

Change in behavior

Is angry, hostile, anxious

Is secretive, afraid to share information

Is withdrawn and isolated

Moves around a lot

Grades fall off, gaps in learning

Avoids friends, teachers, established relationships

What challenges do they face, and how does homelessness affect their education?

Homeless students face the challenges of poverty and mobility. Losing one’s home is traumatic and creates many grief and loss issues for developing children. The lack of a stable living situation adversely affects all aspects of their educational lives, from the formation of trusting friendships with peers and school staff to missing school credits and lacking successful educational experiences. Homelessness both causes and exacerbates existing mental health and physical health issues, erodes self-esteem, and interferes with healthy child development—often due to living in unsafe and communal situations. Children in homeless situations lose foundational school experiences, safe and healthy relationships, needed school documents, follow-through on educational service plans, access to needed services such as tutoring and special education, and the ability to participate in extracurricular and enrichment activities.

What are the top three things Texas teachers and other school staff need to know about educating homeless students?

Homeless students are all of our students. They do not “belong” to one district or community. They belong to all districts and all communities. They are our future neighbors and citizens. We all need to be invested in their care and success.

Homelessness creates barriers to school success. School districts must review and revise policies and procedures with an eye to potential barriers for students in poverty and homelessness. Homeless students need school supports and assistance in order to be successful and reach their full potential. Homeless students can succeed with the right kind and amount of interventions and services. The answer to struggling homeless students is not to deny these students enrollment and assistance; the answer is to welcome and embrace them, and provide them with the supports needed to ensure their success. Schools should bring enthusiasm to the creation of resources and opportunities within the district, and build collaborative partnerships with community service providers.

Schools can be instrumental in helping students feel safe and secure at school, in finding a predictable school experience when their “home” life is chaotic, and in building self-esteem—by helping students understand that homelessness is a situation that is moved into and out of—it’s not an identity.

What does the Texas Homeless Education Office do? How do you work with Texas educators and schools?

The Texas Homeless Education Office (THEO) works with the US Department of Education (USDE), Region 10 Education Service Center, and the TEA in statewide activities that assist Texas school districts and education service centers to serve students and their families who are in homeless situations. Specifically, THEO:

Works to ensure Texas public schools are in compliance with the requirements of the Federal McKinney-Vento Act as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, and numerous supportive state statutes designed to support the education of students in homeless situations.

Provides training in person and through electronic means to school districts and regional service centers, community partners and providers, and at numerous professional and industry conferences and workshops so that everyone understands the requirements for implementing McKinney-Vento, removing educational barriers, and providing educational supports for students in homeless situations.

Provides technical assistance to school districts and educational service centers, and advocacy for parents, guardians, and students in accessing educational services and ensuring their educational rights under federal and state laws.

Creates guidance and educational materials, an informational website, media outreach through Facebook, Twitter, and blogs, and provides research and information to advocates, legislators, and education administrators.

Operates a 1-800 “hotline” that responds to questions from parents, students, the community, and school districts.

Provides consultation and guidance regarding McKinney-Vento school disputes, and district complaint processes.

Works with TEA and Region 10 in implementing statewide services for training, technical assistance, and service provision in Texas.

Implements the TEXSHEP grant program, a three-year competitive grant awarding funds to supplement school district services to students in homeless situations. Please visit theotx.org to access awareness materials, the laws, TEXSHEP grant information and recipients, the list of homeless liaisons throughout the state, the training calendar, upcoming events, and new outreach efforts.

What resources do you recommend for educators?

Theotx.org, NCHE.ed.gov, and NAEHCY.org have numerous materials identifying and explaining the laws, and answering questions regarding the implementation of these laws. Bring sensitivity and awareness to the issues students in homeless situations face by seeking out YouTube video resources such as “Worn Out Welcome Mat,” about homeless students living in doubled-up and substandard housing situations in Texas. Every school district must appoint a homeless liaison, and the liaison must receive training on identifying, enrolling, and assisting students to attend and succeed in school. There are many training opportunities available at the above websites. Another important resource is the yearly statewide Ending Homelessness Conference that provides numerous sessions regarding the laws and their implementation, and provides opportunities to connect with community service providers and local homeless coalitions. Connect with neighboring districts’ homeless liaisons. More seasoned homeless liaisons are a great resource for the person newly assigned the homeless liaison role.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest educator group.

]]>Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:25:55 GMTb2b1efce-812e-4144-8bdb-60d6cd1040f7

Educators have the extremely important job of shaping the minds of our future. From teaching reading skills to keeping students from getting too rowdy to making lessons plans, teaching is more than a full-time job. This might mean you don’t feel as though you have the time to prioritize your personal health and nutrition. But for your students to thrive, you have to thrive, too! Here are seven tips for maintaining a healthy, happy life while working in the classroom:

Take time for yourself.Burnout can be a real possibility when you’re always working, and as an educator, there’s ALWAYS something to do at school. Be sure to give yourself enough time away from work, and try to take 30 minutes to an hour every day to do something that you enjoy. Take a brisk walk, read a book, do some knitting, whatever you like to do!

The Winter 2016 edition of our award-winning ATPE News is now available online now.

In this edition, we:

Share ATPE’s priorities for the 85th Legislature. Learn how you can help make a difference for public education!

Provide tips from ATPE members who have made flexible seating work in their classrooms.

Tell the story of one children’s book writer who is helping Texas students become published authors.

Provide brain break and transition activity tips.

Discuss rising standards for educator preparation.

Explain how recent disciplinary changes could affect your job.

As always, you will also see what other ATPE local units have been up to and learn about ways the association is continuing its mission of making a difference in the lives Texas educators and students!

Our Brain Break this issue featured a spot-the-difference game. Check your answers, and email your completed photo to comm@atpe.org by Jan. 1 for a chance to win an ATPE-branded prize!

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the state’s largest educator group.

]]>Thu, 08 Dec 2016 15:07:10 GMTb12f8363-1e05-483a-a705-4847e0cee9ef

Traveling for Thanksgiving? Don’t forget about these amazing deals from ATPE’s partners.

ATPE members can save on car rentals through Alamo®, Avis®, Budget, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, and National Car Rental.

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from our staff members. Today’s post features Staff Attorney Judd Gibson.

What drew you to working at ATPE?

Most of my close family members have served, or still serve, as teachers and counselors in our Texas public schools, so educators have always been a very important part of my life. My mother was a teacher at Sabine ISD, my father was a teacher and counselor at Longview ISD, and my sister is currently a counselor at Lake Travis ISD. Both of my grandmothers worked in Texas public schools, one as a teacher and another as an aide. And many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins are also educators in Texas. It’s really the family business.

After graduating from the University of North Texas in 1992, I stepped into the classroom as a high school social studies and English teacher for seven years in Lewisville ISD and Rusk ISD before deciding to enroll in law school in 1999. After graduating from the University of Texas School of Law in 2002, I worked as an attorney for a firm in Washington, DC, for two years doing legal work for government contractors and universities with federal research grants. Assisting universities with legal issues was the highlight of my work with the firm, and I enjoyed practicing law with a connection to education.

The opportunity to return to Texas and work for ATPE in 2005 in school law and employment law was a terrific one for me. Although I am not in the classroom any longer, I make my living helping teachers and other school district employees with their employment concerns, and I consider that a privilege since I hold educators in such high esteem. Being an educator is a demanding and difficult job. It’s also the most important job I can think of. So I am especially glad to support our ATPE members by providing helpful, timely advice, as well as practical and legal approaches to their problems.

How long have you been working at ATPE? What was your first job here?

I have worked as an attorney at ATPE for 11 years, since 2005. My first role in the legal department was as an on-call attorney, and I answered incoming legal calls from ATPE members on our hotline. Then, I moved to a position as a travel attorney, where I still talk to members on the phone on a daily basis but also travel throughout the state to represent ATPE members in grievance proceedings. I enjoy driving around Texas and visiting schools to serve our members.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned while working here?

Listen before talking. I have learned that, even when I believe I have a good grasp of an ATPE member’s concerns, it is important to listen fully before providing relevant legal advice and counsel. Sometimes, I learn crucial information by being willing to listen for longer than initially seems necessary. Each ATPE member who contacts us for legal advice has a unique story and unique goals and wishes, and I need to understand before I can advise. Much of my job involves counseling ATPE members on practical approaches to resolving employment concerns, as well as advising ATPE members on the law and their legal options, such as filing a formal grievance.

What is your favorite part of working at ATPE?

I have two favorite parts. One is helping educators. The second is having great working relationships with my colleagues and supervisors, who also are eager to serve educators and support Texas public education. We have a lot of intellectually stimulating conversations in the legal department, and the cases are very interesting. With ten attorneys on staff and a wide variety of legal matters each day, there is rarely a dull moment in our department!

Share something fun about yourself that ATPE members might not know.

I was an ATPE member when I taught school in the 1990s, so my connection to ATPE began long before my job here. Also, I have two children who attend a public elementary school, and I enjoy taking them to class every morning. They help me to stay in touch with what’s going on with today’s students and educators. I am glad to say they both enjoy school and think highly of their teachers and other campus staff.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest educator group.

]]>Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:00:32 GMT823c4f34-e68e-415d-a31b-30d7770ed50b

The 85th Texas Legislature convenes Jan. 10, 2017. For 140 days, lawmakers will debate thousands of bills, including many dealing with public education. ATPE’s lobbyists will be there to advocate for educators and students. ATPE has outlined seven priorities for the legislative session that include improving school finance and funding educators’ healthcare needs; preserving educators’ right to use payroll deduction for their association dues; and making sure the public funds we need for public education are not wasted on vouchers and “education savings accounts” that subsidize unregulated private and home schools.

Sadly, at least one high-ranking elected official has different priorities in mind for this session. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has outlined 20 priorities he wants the Texas Senate to adopt in 2017. They include establishing private school vouchers, tax cuts and spending caps that will limit the money available for public education, and restricting how unions and associations that represent public employees collect their dues. While there arguably are some important issues on Patrick’s priority list, such as keeping police officers safe and preventing child abuse, it’s unfortunate that so much of the Senate’s energy will be devoted to wasteful causes like vouchers and prohibiting payroll deduction.

More than ever, ATPE members must engage with lawmakers on the real priorities that will help—not hurt—education, and one of the best ways to participate is by attending our next lobby day event. “ATPE at the Capitol” is scheduled for March 5-6, 2017, and registration will open in early December. Watch for updates and full details in the coming weeks. We’ll see you at the Capitol!

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest educator group.

]]>Wed, 30 Nov 2016 15:53:45 GMTdc319044-61a0-4b12-9094-eb2663518990

Research has shown that providing students with different seating options helps them feel more empowered in the classroom and increases academic performance. But making the switch to flexible seating can be daunting. ATPE members weigh in on flexible seating and discuss how they’ve addressed problems in their classrooms.

Where did you find the materials for your classroom?

Don’t feel like you need to spend a ton of money to get started. There are cheap options and lots of teachers use DonorsChoose.org to get their classrooms started.

I can't afford to buy all this stuff! I posted something on Facebook, and friends and family donated items they no longer wanted. I looked at garage sales, Goodwill, thrift stores, Five Below, the side of the road. I am constantly on the lookout for anything I can repurpose to make a seat. This summer while working at my husband's pool store, I created bucket seats out of the chlorine buckets. My rule of thumb is to not spend more than $5 on a seat, it will eventually break. Some seats were not made for the amount of kids I have. Duct tape is a good fix, and kids enjoy patching up gamer chairs, yoga balls, and bean bags.

My principal was very supportive, but clearly stated that she did not have any extra funds to assist me. The school was able to provide me with half desks and tables, so that really helped me get started. We were able to raise some of them high enough my students could stand up to work, and then we took the bottom part of the legs off for some to allow them to be low to the ground. I did spend quite a bit out of pocket to buy cushions, but I think it was worth it because it not only makes it more comfortable, but it helps to define their space for them when they're on the floor. My long-term goal is to have enough cushions and clipboards available so that if everyone wants to work away from a desk/table they will have that option.

--Jennifer Jones, Third-Grade Teacher, Knowles Elementary, Leander

How did you set up your classroom to incorporate flexible seating?

I teach a resource special education class and wanted to bring more structure to my classroom. I made my room into various workstations, some which allow students to sit in chairs, some on the rugs, and some in bungee chairs.

I have four sections: Balance Your Mind (tables/desks with exercise balls), Standing Up for Learning (high tables/desks so they can stand while they work), Kneeling for Knowledge (tables/desks low to the ground so they can sit on cushions on the floor), and Sitting Like Scholars (traditional desks/tables with chairs). They can also choose to grab a clipboard and sit anywhere on the floor.

--Jennifer Jones, Third-Grade Teacher, Knowles Elementary, Leander

How did you introduce your students to flexible seating?

The first day of school, I had the seats out, but we didn’t use them. We talked a lot about how our classroom looks different and how special it is. I introduced the seats on day two and we talked about my expectations, the rules for using special seats, how important it was that they choose seats that are comfortable for them but also work best for their brains. We practiced using them and we have gradually increased the time we spend in flexible seating each day. They are amazing at it. They take care of the seats, clean up after themselves and I haven’t had to move a child from a flexible seat (even though they know I can if I need to).

From day one, kids will walk in my room and quickly check their schedules to see if they are in the right room and in a seventh-grade math class. For the first week, I hand out rational number cards and they find the matching card on their seat. We play a round of “Goldilocks” for the week as kids test out chairs that work for them and note the ones that don't. I don't allow them to change a card until they have tried it once. At the end of the week, they give me their top three and the and the one seat they hate. I have the need for a seating chart, so this allows me to give them choice and me a little structure. We change seats every grading period or so.

Make sure the process for choosing a seat is clearly labeled. Students choose a specific spot when they first come in the door. There is a chart with Velcro circles and they all have a name card and will move their name to the spot they choose. They are allowed to move at any time during the day to any open seat, and then at the end of the day they move their name back to "Gone for the Day" so we can start fresh the next morning.

--Jennifer Jones, Third-Grade Teacher, Knowles Elementary, Leander

Allow choice. Seating charts work well, too (see above for how I do it). You will find your bouncing ADD kid does quite well on that Goodwill yoga ball.

I have procedures for who gets to choose their preferred seat for whole group first, and how they select their seat. I post on the board what they need to bring with them to whole group. Then, when we transition to independent, group, or partner work from their whole group spot, the group that didn't have preferred seating gets to choose first. I never assign their whole group seats, although I will move students if they are off task or not sitting safely. My students get to choose a new work spot at least twice a day based on our activities, and then they return to their chosen whole group spot for mini-lessons. They love the independence!

What classroom management tips do you have for teachers who are considering flexible seating?

Be consistent. I have procedures that must be followed when using the different seating options, and I have to be mindful to use the same procedures every time. Students love the freedom that flexible seating provides, but they still need structure so they know what to expect.

Step up your routine and classroom management instruction. Flexible seating can be amazing and work SO well, but without proper instruction on the routines and expectations, it could easily become chaotic.

There will be that kid that can't handle the flexible seating. You know the one, who is bouncing like he is going to fly through the ceiling. That is where the desks come in. They can always be bumped to those if they can't handle the responsibility that a flexible seating option requires. They have to respect your stuff.

Let the students create the expectations for each seating type together and keep them posted in the room. This really helped my students take ownership and will help them hold each other accountable to using them safely.

--Jennifer Jones, Third-Grade Teacher, Knowles Elementary, Leander

Have a plan for your classroom. Know how will you decide who gets to sit where, if and how you will rotate the students, and how you will make transitions from your seating to other areas of the room. After I taught the routines and procedures for each area, students became independent and successful in transitions and worked much more effectively.

The biggest challenge I faced was the question of how my students would take assessments. That was the first question that everyone asked when they saw my room (I have no desks). My answer was that my students would use what they have learned about how they work best to choose their optimal work space for assessment. We just took our first district common assessment, and it was amazing! Students were comfortable, they were easily able to keep their answers private, and I was proud of their results.

A chair breaks and is out of commission. I hoard backups in the front of my room just in case something happens and I need an extra seat. Some kids just grab a pillow and sit on the floor. It doesn't matter to me as long as they are working.

I had a really hard time wrapping my head around how to do “meet the teacher” night. For Meet the Teacher night, I decided to have everything put away so that the kids wouldn’t view the variety of seats as “toys” because they hadn’t been instructed how to use them as tools.

One challenge I had was what to do with all of their stuff, specifically pencils. I found an idea on Pinterest where someone taped large straws to the desks as pencil holders. This has worked wonders in my class! There is always a pencil at each spot. They keep their "tool box" of supplies in their book box along with a couple of books to read. They can either leave it on the shelf and go get things as they need it, or they can carry their book box with them to their spot. We have baskets for each subject's journals and students help pass them out.

--Jennifer Jones, Third-Grade Teacher, Knowles Elementary, Leander

What else should teachers considering flexible seating know?

Reach out on Twitter. There are TONS of resources through other educators available. They are a HUGE help. I follow the hashtags #desklesstribe and #starbucksmyroom. There are teachers all over the country willing to jump in and answer questions anytime you have one.

Planning is key. Before I implemented flexible seating, I brainstormed all of the obstacles I might face, so that I already had a plan in place. Because it was so different, my students were very excited! I had to intentionally plan every transition and scenario so that I was prepared. Some things to think about are how to handle transitions, supply storage, privacy for independent work, state and district assessments, etc.

Have more options than number of students. I have several students that like to stand up for one subject but prefer to sit down for the other. Having more seats than students really allows them to choose where they will do their best learning for that subject. (I currently have 21 students and have 25 seats, plus they have the option of using a clipboard and sitting anywhere on the floor.)

--Jennifer Jones, Third-Grade Teacher, Knowles Elementary, Leander

It’s ok to keep desks. I have kids that prefer them, and I have kids that don't earn the flexible seating. I have a wide range of options. It was scary at first. It was a huge change. I had 32 perfectly good desks that matched and everything. I knew once I gave those up I wouldn't get that set back. But now I can't dream of having those desks back. My class looks and feels like home.

Do you use flexible seating in your classroom? Add your own tips to the comments below.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the largest educators’ group in Texas.

]]>Tue, 29 Nov 2016 15:35:16 GMTdd7b07b1-a829-4054-8edb-b76f0e9e884c

ATPE is proud of our diverse members and the hard work they put into educating Texas children! In this new Member Q&A series, we will showcase members from across the state. Today’s post features Laura Herrera from Irving ISD.

What is your job title? Where do you work? How long have you been in this role?

My title is middle school social studies academic specialist. I work in Irving ISD, and this is my first year in this position. Prior to this, I was a campus academic specialist at a middle school for four years and taught high school social studies for six years.

How long have you been an ATPE member? Why did you choose ATPE?

I have been an ATPE member since I began teaching in Irving 10 years ago. I was encouraged by our campus representative to join, after she explained how beneficial it was to be a member. I was also able to serve as the campus representative myself for four years!

What’s your favorite Texas vacation?

I can’t pick just one! Camping near Pedernales Falls, going to the beach at South Padre, visiting Austin or Fredericksburg!

Share your favorite moment as an educator.

My favorite moment as an educator is seeing former students who have become educators themselves.

What made you want to be an educator?

In college, I developed a love for geography, places, and travelling. I wanted to be able to impart that love to others, so I decided to become a social studies teacher. What better way to share experiences and history of places around the world than to teach about them?

If you’re an ATPE member and you want to share your story, email comm@atpe.org for Member Q&A guidelines.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the state’s largest educator group.

]]>Fri, 18 Nov 2016 20:15:28 GMT00390e16-37ec-4ddb-9757-b45fa80f97a0

Like the Professional Development and Appraisal System (PDAS), the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) is primarily based on the appraiser’s written report of a teacher’s performance in a formal or walk-through observation. Read on to learn what Texas teachers can do before and after their observations to help improve their T-TESS appraisals.

Requesting a Pre-Observation Conference

The T-TESS allows but does not require a pre-observation conference in the 2016-17 school year. After that year, the T-TESS will require pre-observation conferences only for announced observations. Whether observations are announced—in other words, whether you receive advance notice—is a local decision.

Even if a pre-conference is not required, it would be good practice to request one. This gives you an opportunity to find out what your appraiser is going to be looking for and to discuss any challenges you have dealt with and what you have done to tackle them. For unannounced observations, you will need to know when your appraiser is likely to start doing observations, to get in your request for a pre-conference ahead of time.

What to Expect in the Post-Observation Conference

A post-observation conference between teacher and appraiser is required after the formal, 45-minute observation but is not required for less formal observations, like walk-through observations. When required, the conference must:

Be conducted within 10 working days of the observation.

Be diagnostic and prescriptive in nature.

Include a written observation report for each dimension observed. This written report should be presented to the teacher only after a discussion of the “areas of refinement or reinforcement” and can, “at the discretion of the appraiser,” allow for a revision to an “area of refinement or reinforcement.” This is a change from the PDAS. Under the PDAS, the completed report was generally shared with the teacher before the meeting or at the beginning of the meeting. The purpose of this change was to make it easier for the appraiser to adjust their scores or comments based on a discussion with the teacher, creating an environment of flexibility.

Teacher Response Options (Note Important Changes with the T-TESS)

Sometimes, even after the post-observation conference, the teacher may not agree with the appraiser’s observation report and feel the need to respond. Like the PDAS, the T-TESS allows for a written response and a request for a second appraiser.

A Written Response

A teacher may submit a written response or rebuttal to document their disagreement with the scores, descriptions, or comments contained in any document relating to their performance within 10 working days:

After receiving a written observation report or any written documentation relating to Domains I, II, or III.

After receiving a written summative annual appraisal report that contains information relating to Domain IV or the performance of the teacher’s students.

NEW FOR T-TESS: A teacher may not submit a written response to a written summative annual appraisal report if (a) the ratings or information are the same as that provided to the teacher earlier in an observation report or other documentation and (b) the teacher did not submit a response at that time.

This means that, with the T-TESS, teachers can no longer safely “wait and see” if scores improve on the summative report. Waiting to submit a response could cause the teacher to lose the right to respond at all.

A Request for a Second Appraisal

A teacher may submit a written request for a second appraisal by a different certified appraiser within 10 working days:

After receiving a written observation report relating to Domains I, II, or III.

After receiving a written summative annual appraisal report that contains information relating to Domain IV or the performance of the teacher’s students.

NEW FOR T-TESS: A teacher may not submit a request for a second appraisal after receiving a written summative annual appraisal report if (a) the ratings or information are the same as that provided to the teacher earlier in an observation report and (b) the teacher did not submit a request for a second appraisal by a different appraiser at that time.

This new restriction means that a teacher can no longer safely “wait and see” if scores improve on the summative report.

For more T-TESS tips, see our T-TESS Resource Page as well as Part 1, Part 2 and Part 4 of our Navigating the T-TESS series.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest educator association.

]]>Thu, 17 Nov 2016 14:54:26 GMTa0f56be4-0e5b-422f-8c93-da724875de25

I have been in education for about 22 years and have worked as a paraprofessional for the last four years. I certainly should not be surprised when students respond with indifference to the things I consider important. I realize some students come to school burdened with life issues and, of course, those need to be addressed. But there are many, many students who come to school less encumbered and more apt to be ready to learn. Those are the ones that baffle and, to be honest, frustrate me. All the creative, innovative motivational strategies sometimes just fall flat, much to my disappointment. If they only knew how much energy and thought we put into our lesson plans! When students’ attitudes start to influence my attitude in the wrong way, I have to go back to the basics.

1. Remember to Meet Their Needs

I can’t help but notice that many students sit in class expecting to be “entertained” or, worse, put to sleep. One of my fondest education professors said, “Teach to the need of the student.” Find out what their need is, then teach to that need. We have various resources, methods, strategies, and approaches we can thankfully utilize, but this presumes we know what the student’s basic educational need truly is. Use your subject to address their need. Can’t read? Use that history lesson to teach them to read. Not easy to do, but it is a place to start. Sometimes we overcomplicate the basics.

2. Remember, They Are Young

After one especially frustrating fifth-grade class marched out of my computer class, I mumbled my complaint about their contrary attitudes to their homeroom teacher. His comment stopped me cold. He told me to “remember they are only ten years old.” Yes, I knew that, but I had not weighed the reality of it. A decade, only a decade, had some of these kids lived. My life was, well, many decades into adulthood. That statement has become my reply when irritation assaults my attitude. Although some children grow up way too fast, many lack true maturity.

3. Remember, Patience and Grace Are Virtues

I am more traditional, so change is not always easy for me. However, I am willing to try new things. If students’ indifference is a result of something I can change, why not change? Most kids respond to a good story. Jokes can also crack kids predisposed to disregard anything remotely resembling instruction. We all have been trained in differentiated instruction, but the process of determining which approach works with which student requires patience and extreme grace on our part. Often, however, the long suffering is worth it. I have to remind myself that I am learning about my students and must be willing to adjust, when appropriate, to their learning style.

4. Remember to Care, Even if They Appear Not to

I am involved in technology, and the tendency to become robotic exists simply because I work with machines. I have to counteract the inclination to become stiff and distant. I have to remember not only that my students are about a decade old but also that technical button-pushing fixes are seldom part of their ability to acquire real knowledge.

Compassion and genuine concern originate from our hearts. It is probably the reason we became teachers in the first place. It is sad that this sensitivity is many times swept to the sidelines by the more urgent deadlines and requirements imposed upon educators. Stand at your door in the morning and welcome your students to class by name, praise good work, remember their birthdays, and surprise the class from time to time with simple treats or little celebrations. Students respond more positively to honest interest and kindness, especially those that challenge our earnest goodwill. It helps to put on a more mellow demeanor now and again.

5. Remember, Change Begets Change

This is a hard lesson of life. I could never really understand why I had to change before a situation or another person might change. Why couldn’t we just change the situation or the other person? Gloriously, sometimes that can happen. Unfortunately, however, life and people are not that simple. There is no substitute for straightforward self-assessment. Self-assessment requires honesty and, with the consultation of trusted colleagues, it will change you, and your students will benefit. When I positively alter something in my teaching style or my response or reaction to a student, I notice that they change, too. I am sure we have all observed that one lesson we are so excited and passionate about move through the class like an airborne contagion. Whatever is given out returns. Counteract indifference with a persuasive and determined positive attitude. Someone just might latch onto it and cause an epidemic transformation.

So, what do you do when your students don’t appear to care about your lesson? Go back to the basics. Remember:

Uncomplicate the complicated

Immaturity often masks as a poor attitude

Be patient, extend grace

Compassion opens hearts and minds

Change what can be changed

How do you keep students engaged? Share your own tips in the comments below.

Kay Deckerhoff graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, and is a certified elementary school teacher. She and her husband have two grown children, who are both graduates of Texas A&M. Kay is a computer paraprofessional at AR Turner Elementary in Willis, Texas. She was the recipient of the 2016 ATPE Associate Educator of the Year Award.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest educators’ group.

]]>Tue, 15 Nov 2016 15:40:43 GMTb458cd59-eff9-44fd-888e-299e488f816b

ATPE talked to the Texas Retired Teachers Association about what the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) does with your money.

Why are investments important?

Investing $130 billion is a big job. Income from investments has accounted for more than 60 percent of the total funding for the TRS pension fund since its inception. Each 1 percent of investment income is equal to approximately $1.3 billion. Compare this to a 1 percent contribution increase from the state or active employee payroll, which would generate less than $400 million.

Are TRS investment options limited by state statute?

Yes, the Texas state constitution requires that the TRS Board of Trustees invest funds in prudent investments.

Has the legislature further restricted the investment discretion of the board?

Yes, current statutes restrict the investment in “hedge funds” to 10 percent of the total value of the pension fund. The amount of funds invested by outside managers is also limited.

What is the process for making investment decisions?

The board adopts an investment policy statement that provides a roadmap for what types of investments can be made and who has the discretion to make the decisions regarding specific investments.

How does the board ensure compliance with the investment policy statement?

On a quarterly basis, the board receives reports on investment activity and performance from both the internal staff as well as from the independent external investment consultant via a public meeting. Performance is compared to established benchmarks, and any variation is discussed.

How much incentive compensation can the investment staff earn or receive each year?

The percentages vary by level, but the most senior investment staff can earn up to 125 percent of their base pay, which is generally paid out over a two-year time period. Some incentive compensation payments may be deferred if the fund had negative earnings.

On what factors is the incentive compensation based?

Currently, the incentive compensation is based on 50 percent for excess returns over the benchmark, 30 percent based on peer group comparisons, and 20 percent based on discretionary factors.

Why does TRS pay incentive compensation?

TRS uses the combination of salary and incentive compensation to attract and retain the most qualified staff it can get. Periodic studies are done by TRS management to ensure the total compensation package is reasonable given the competition from other public pension funds and private sector employers.

Want more information on the issues that affect Texas teachers? Follow us on Facebook, and read our public education advocacy blog at TeachtheVote.org.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the largest educators’ group in Texas.

]]>Thu, 10 Nov 2016 17:20:25 GMTfe30fd7a-68b8-4fa5-877e-08704c8af4ee

That's right! It's finally here! Election Day is today! Your voice is needed to ensure that public education will be well-served and respected by your elected officials. If you have not yet voted, please visit your assigned polling location to cast your vote. Don't forget to take your photo ID. Most polls are open today until 7 p.m. For additional information, visit VoteTexas.

For more about how ATPE supports public education in the legislature, visit TeachtheVote.org.

]]>Tue, 08 Nov 2016 15:15:57 GMTb55ea9ca-4be9-4e00-af9d-4cbbaabfb079

Several years ago, as my husband and I were getting financially organized, I read The Millionaire Next Door. The book discusses how “ordinary” people are able to accumulate incredible wealth through certain “ordinary” behaviors.

The Millionaire Next Door offers various statistics about people who have assets in excess of a million dollars. The book mentions that, of the women who work outside of the home, the majority of their professions are teachers.

Immediately, I informed Sweet Husband of his luck in the marriage lottery.

Wait. What?

I went back and read the statistic again.

Teachers know that our salaries are not commensurate with our skills, so how can that be true?

Then. I realized.

Teachers are constantly being asked to do more with less. We are asked to lead programs with increasing numbers of students and decreasing funding. We are asked to make do with antiquated technology for another year, yet increase the use of technology. We are asked to work additional hours for very little pay.

These skills that we employ in the classroom relate to our home lives. We are asked to lead household budgets. We are asked to make do with antiquated technology for another year. We are asked to work out financial strategies.

In sum, we are used to working hard and living below our means. Any financial expert will tell you that those two choices will change your financial future.

That’s how millionaires can be in the classroom next door.

Allison Venuto teaches financial organizing in the Dallas area and owns Ducks in a Row Personal Organizing. Connect with her at www.ducksinarowdallas.com.

For more member stories, follow ATPE on Facebook and Pinterest. Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest educators’ group.

]]>Thu, 03 Nov 2016 14:42:18 GMTd54d8534-4dc8-48a2-97a6-8e84b1fa202b

My responsibilities as a paraprofessional include lunch duty. Recently my schedule was changed to include kindergarten lunch time. Patience and machine-washable clothing are requirements for this duty. After emptying a bottle of spot remover one weekend, I was beginning to wonder how I could keep clean around five-year-olds with open milk cartons, sticky fingers, and numerous accidental spills, and not go bankrupt purchasing stain removers.

There was one spill that was the “Mt. Everest” of them all and caused me to take drastic measures. I actually knew better than to stand behind the trash can as the children marched passed depositing their garbage in the bin, but for some reason I did. One sweet, innocent boy accidentally flipped his tray too soon, which sent his ketchup on a trajectory I realized too late was going to intercept my pants. Although it was unintentional, any NASA rocket engineer would have been proud of its line of flight. It landed with a plop and then proceeded to slip all the way down my leg and come to rest on my shoe. The boy didn’t speak and I didn’t speak. Time stood still. After reminding myself that laundry soap and spot removers were my new best friends, I mumbled something about being more careful and then retreated to find something to somehow eliminate the red mess. That was on a Friday. On Saturday my daughter and I purchased a $5 apron. For a brief moment, I did consider donning a welder’s uniform, complete with face mask, a rubber covering, gloves, and steel-toed boots. I came to my senses quickly and dismissed that idea, shivering at the image it would create for the kids. But an apron would help.

That following Monday, I wore my apron and was greeted by funny looks and sincere questions, as well as outright smirks, and that was from my co-workers! One thing about children is that they are brutally honest. Some wondered why I was wearing a bib, others asked what it was, and the really informed asked what I was going to cook. I did receive an order for a grilled cheese.

So, what I recognized was that these modern, technologically advanced students had no idea what an apron was. It was an opportunity for a lesson—to blend different generations! I could merge my “apron” era knowledge with a tech-savvy generation. Life gets messy and things don’t always go as planned, even from a student’s perspective. We must prepare, do the best we can, teach, forgive often, and then move on. Our lifetime is a continual learning experience, so why not enjoy the adventure and accept that accidents, messes, stains, and unexpected surprises are going to happen? My first sewing project in home economics class was an apron. I don’t know what they sew in today’s home ec classes, but an apron represents rolling up your sleeves and getting to work. Aprons mean that I will probably get dirty, but I am prepared. They represent service and hard work primarily motivated by love, so much like the education profession.

Blogger Jennifer Fulwiler stated it well: “An apron is a simple act that sends a surprisingly powerful message … It’s a symbolic gesture that indicates that you’re seeking to thrive now, here in the midst of the toil that comes with nurturing new souls; that you see the work of serving others not as a temporary phase, but as a key aspect of a well lived life. Taking the time to fasten the strings of an apron around your waist sends a message (to yourself, as much as to anyone else) that it’s worth the effort.”

It is work to serve others and, like life in general, it can get messy. But that’s why we have aprons. The education profession is not always easy nor without its own type of “messes.” Whether we wear an actual apron or not, teachers and paraprofessionals care for students. We take it seriously by rolling up our sleeves, serving our students food for their minds as best we can, not fearing the often confusing, difficult plights, predicaments, and problems we may face. Armed with determination, we endeavor to make a difference. By the end of the day, we may have clutter and messes, but every splatter and stain means someone was fed!

As long as I continue to remind myself this is not a job, but a responsibility bordering on a calling, I attempt to face each day with renewed determination that I can make a difference, and, with God’s help, I will. I don’t always succeed. I have made many mistakes, and probably even invented some that others have never thought of or imagined. However, when I learn from those mistakes and make adjustments, I grow, which helps me help others. I also must recognize that what works for one group of students may not work for others. I must resist becoming a static and ineffective influence in students’ lives and instead must examine each class’s dynamics with as much wisdom as possible. So, with my apron tied securely, I am happy to welcome the messes that come with educating our next generation!

Kay Deckerhoff graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, and is a certified elementary school teacher. She and her husband have two grown children, who are both graduates of Texas A&M. Kay is a computer paraprofessional at AR Turner Elementary in Willis. She was the recipient of the 2016 ATPE Associate Educator of the Year Award.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest educator group.

]]>Tue, 01 Nov 2016 15:03:03 GMTd55042fb-d63c-461b-b435-66f68796eb36

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from our staff members. Today’s post features Senior Graphic Designer Erica Fos.

What drew you to working at ATPE?

It’s always been important to me to work for a company that serves the betterment of society. In my field, I could easily work in advertising, convincing people that they need to buy a certain product to look better or be cooler. I made a vow to myself that I would use my talents for good. I strongly believe in the values of ATPE, and I’m proud to serve our members so that they can nurture the future generation of our country.

How long have you been working at ATPE?What was your first job here?

I’ve been at ATPE for 11 years now. I started out as a junior graphic designer. Back then, we had three graphic designers. I spent much of my time laying out business cards, letterhead, and personalizing newsletters, but I did get to work on some meatier pieces like ATPE News, the membership campaign, and the identities for Convention and Leader U.

What is the most important thing you have learned while working here?

I’ve learned to embrace change. When I started working here, my job was 95 percent print based. Technology has advanced so much in the past decade. I’ve had to keep up with the many ways our members prefer to take in information.

What is your favorite part of working at ATPE?

The people. I’ve had the honor of working with an incredible team since day one. The leadership at ATPE has a gift of employing incredible people that seem to be in this for all of the right reasons. There is a sense of family in our staff and although there have been some staffing changes in the past decade, the integrity and generosity of our team is unwavering.

Share something fun about yourself that members might not know.

I am a charter member and past president of ATPE Toastmasters. When our executive director, Gary Godsey, came on board, we had an NTO training meeting. The field rep running the meeting asked who would be comfortable speaking at NTOs. Being incredibly shy, I said I was not. Gary pointed at me and said, “If this young lady is afraid of public speaking, we need to start a Toastmasters club.” Three years later, I have served several officer roles in ATPE Toastmasters, received my Competent Communicator and Competent Leader Awards, and served as the staff liaison for the ATPE Public Information Committee. Recently, I joined the AIGA Austin Board of Directors. (AIGA is the professional organization for graphic designers, much like ATPE.) If it weren’t for my time in Toastmasters, I wouldn’t have the courage to take on these leadership roles.

]]>Thu, 27 Oct 2016 14:41:34 GMT17c96c5d-7a05-42ee-b5dd-b844d99bf8d1

For ATPE members only. Up to $15,000, $25,000 or $50,000 of life insurance coverage — guaranteed!

No exams. No tests. Your acceptance is guaranteed for the next 60 days. Please respond by 12/15/16.

ATPE has recently partnered with Insurance Specialists, Inc., a full service insurance administrator that specializes in working with associations like ours. With this new relationship comes a special offer for our members—based on age, up to $50,000 of term life insurance. And coverage is underwritten by MetLife, a trusted name for over 140 years.

You could get up to $15,000, $25,000 or $50,000 of coverage for less than $1.00 a day.

This plan would pay in addition to any other life insurance plan you may have in force, includes an Accelerated Benefits option and Estate Resolution Service, and the coverage will stay with you regardless of whether you change jobs.

Make the most of your membership.

This special offer is only available to you through ATPE and ISI, Inc. Act now to give you and your family this important protection.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the largest educators’ group in Texas.

]]>Wed, 26 Oct 2016 13:56:14 GMT9f491266-8ce2-4c8e-8eb3-964659879d2b

Preparing students for post-graduation success is every educator’s goal. Irving ISD Career and Technical Education Coordinator Gary Schepf shares his experience with college and career readiness and discusses how educators can equip students for job searching in our ever-evolving society.

What are the most important skills students need to succeed in college or a career? How do you prepare students for success in those roles?

We have identified through research the top eight soft skills (i.e., “people skills”) students need for success. We utilize media, guest speakers, discussions, etc., to help students gain a better understanding of these skills. One of the most important skills that students need to be successful in college is the willingness to ask for assistance, which is a skill that many students struggle with throughout their entire educational life. The top eight skills are, in no specific order:

integrity

teamwork

work quality

listening

communications (oral, written, electronic)

time management

problem solving

professional ethics

How early should educators start thinking about college/career readiness?

Elementary years start off asking, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” So career planning starts early with exploration and hearing from career professionals. As for college readiness, taking students to college campuses and college fairs exposes students to the possibilities.

How do you help students decide what path is right for them?

Career assessments can be used to pinpoint student likes, dislikes, interests, etc. Once the assessment is complete, potential careers are identified. The next step is to discuss options to make sure students are focused on the path that is right for them. Without an assessment, you have to discuss interests, hobbies, etc., and help guide students into potential careers. For example, I had a student who wanted to be a computer hacker. Obviously, that is a crime. So I redirected his interest into network and computer security, which is the path he followed.

How do you know when students are ready for the next step? How do you track their progress?

We use a college and career readiness matrix that spans seven years (sixth grade through twelfth grade). With a career in mind, the student’s coursework over the years includes assignments that address the career interest, which becomes part of their electronic portfolio. We also follow a program of study at the high school level that allows students to know the courses that they need in order to achieve an endorsement. At the ninth grade, students take principle courses in career and technical education and explore the various programs in their top career cluster.

Is it possible to prepare students to be both college and career ready? Do these two goals ever contradict each other?

Yes. Prepare students for LIFE! There are skills that apply to both. Conflict may occur when deciding upon taking an advanced placement (AP) course versus a career-related course. Many of our students are earning dual credit through their career-related course. And there are way too many colleges that do not accept and apply the AP results toward a college degree. Students need to research the local job/career market (or the state or area of where they want to live) and determine what skills and knowledge and degrees and certifications they will need.

How do you work with colleges or employers to help your students succeed?

Irving ISD sponsors a college night annually. More than 100 colleges from across the state and country participate, as well as the branches of the military. We take our students on college campus field trips, and we bring in college representatives as guest speakers. For our employers, we provide them with job posting capabilities through our college and career readiness website, bring them into the schools to tour the programs through periodic Lunch & Learn events, and host an annual job fair at the administration building.

How do you teach soft skills such as communication, working with others, etc., alongside the more tangible skills that are needed for success?

Demonstration and modeling. Students are always watching adults they respect. Utilize the soft skills as if they are a natural part of the educational process.

What is the biggest challenge you face when preparing students for life after high school? How have you addressed this challenge successfully in the past?

Guidance and realistic expectations are the biggest challenges. All students can be successful, but regretfully, in our current society, they will probably be changing careers every five to seven years. It is crucial to have periodic parent–student–teacher meetings to discuss students’ options. The careers/jobs in the next five years may not exist today, so our students need a strong foundation that will help them succeed regardless. Not all jobs/careers require a four-year degree. Today, most jobs warrant a two-year degree with certifications. With careers changing more often, students need to know that they will likely be returning to college periodically for additional coursework and/or certification. And, if the career they choose is not feasible, educators should help students understand that they need a job that will provide them with years of happiness and financial success. They can pursue their dream career as a hobby until it turns into a successful career. Never burst their balloon, just add a string for control.

How do you define success for your students?

Success needs to have a broad definition. First and foremost, success should be defined as being “life ready” upon graduation, allowing them to be ready for college and career. Preparing students for only college limits their success. If you look at the lifetime of a student, college is only two to eight years of their life. If you only focus on those two to eight years, what about the remaining 30 to 60 years? Ensuring that students are college and career ready upon graduation will help them go directly to college immediately after high school or directly to work, or a combination. Not all students are mature enough for college immediately after high school. Success is being able to function over a lifetime, contributing to the community at large and being self-sufficient. One of my parents was struggling with the future of their child. This student was torn in many different directions and upon graduating did not have a lifetime plan. After a couple of years, around the age of 20, this young adult entered college and now is a successful attorney.

What resources do you recommend for educators who are working with students preparing for college or a career?

There are a variety of online resources that are available at a price, such as Campus2Careers, Kuder Navigator, Career Cruising, Naviance, etc. In addition, Achieve Texas has a variety of college and career readiness resources.

Share your own tips for preparing students for life after graduation in the comments below.

Irving ISD Career and Technical Education Coordinator Gary Schepf was the 2016 ATPE Administrator of the Year Award winner.

For more information, see ATPE’s Professional Learning Portal course, Getting Yourself in Shape to Shape Minds. This course offers tips for new and aspiring teachers to land a job in public education. It provides information on certifications and how to market oneself, as well as interview tips.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest group of educators.

ATPE talked to Sara Jefferson, the school program manager at IT’S TIME TEXAS, about how exercise and nutrition affect kids in the classroom and how educators can help their students make healthy choices.

What does IT’S TIME TEXAS do?

A whole lot! We offer a range of programs, initiatives, events, and tools that empower Texans to lead healthier lives and build healthier communities. Every Texas community has a unique culture and unique needs, and the same goes for every Texan, so almost everything we offer is tech-based and easy to access from anywhere in the state, and free to utilize or participate in. Motivated educators, employers, elected officials, etc., can deliver our resources in a way that works for them!

How do you work with Texas educators and schools?

Texas educators are the first group we built a strong relationship with when our organization started up as an after school program almost ten years ago. We have always been blown away by the heart and dedication of the thousands of educators who use our tools, and we are always collecting input to improve and build upon our school health offerings. Our Teach Healthier Mobile App is a free app with hundreds of lessons for Pre-K - 12th grade, ranging from 5-60 minutes, that any educator can use to teach their students about nutrition and get them moving at the same time. Educators, schools, and entire school districts participate in our annual Community Challenge to promote a culture of health and compete against same-size districts statewide! We are big fans of School Health Advisory Councils (SHACs) and host regular SHAC webinars as members of the Texas Action for Healthy Kids SHAC Leadership Team. We’re developing some exciting new SHAC resources that will be available in 2017. We just hosted our annual Summit event in August with a track for educators to earn CPE credits, we offer an after school program in 30 Title 1 Central Texas schools, and the list goes on!

What are the top three things educators should know about their students’ health and nutrition?

The health of our students is directly linked to their academic success. Both physical activity and healthy eating have been proven to help improve academic achievement.

Educators are role models; if you practice healthy habits, your students will follow! Drinking water instead of soda in the classroom, rewarding students with non-food items, and walking or exercising on breaks or after school are all things your students will pick up on and bring home with them.

You can educate and motivate your students’ families to make healthier choices, too. Form or strengthen a School Health Advisory Council with parental involvement and host family health fairs, cooking classes, workout classes, Community Challenge events, build a community garden… the possibilities are endless!

How do health and nutrition issues affect students in the classroom?

When our kids are hungry, malnourished, overweight, and/or don’t get enough physical activity (and none of these are mutually exclusive) they have a more difficult time focusing and retaining information. Students who are overweight or obese often suffer socially and emotionally, which is directly linked to academic performance and can prevent even the most intelligent students from succeeding academically. A slew of studies in recent years have concluded that obese students are more likely to have lower test scores, get held back a grade, and are even less likely to go to college compared with their healthier peers. All to say, if we want to set our children up for success in school and in life we need to invest in their health, and there is enough of an evidence base for educators to make this case to administrators.

What can Texas educators do to encourage their students to be active and eat well?

Focus on being a role model for your students! What do you sip on and snack on in your classroom? Do you ever get out and run around or play active games with your students during the school day? They think you are so cool, and you may be one of the most influential adults in their lives, so take advantage of that. Implementing lessons from our Teach Healthier App as regularly as possible is a great, easy way to get students active and teach them about nutrition at the same time! A lot of classroom teachers will lead one of the quick energizers or workouts in every class.

What changes have you seen change in the communities where IT’S TIME TEXAS has been active?

What we see in communities of all sizes is that people utilize one of our tools or participate in one of our initiatives, discover how easy and enjoyable it is, and then start adding in more and more. We see schools and school districts improving their health efforts (and allocating the funds to do so), forming SHACs, and connecting with families and the local business community. We see communities using our toolkit to form Mayor’s Fitness Councils and implement new health-related policies. We see Ambassadors take the lead and form new relationships between their local schools, businesses, organizations, and local governments by asking everyone to participate in our programs, and this gives the whole community a platform to leverage local resources and prioritize health. When a handful of motivated individuals (oftentimes educators) work together with us and adapt our offerings to fit their community’s culture, that is when we see some really amazing, lasting healthy change.

How do you help your students make healthy choices? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the largest educators’ group in Texas.

]]>Thu, 20 Oct 2016 20:39:42 GMT690130d5-9bf5-4fb8-b673-2a71eb2749b5

Did you know ATPE has seven dedicated regional representatives who work for our members in their local communities across the state of Texas? These representatives live and work in various locations across the state and are ready to serve you and help you meet your region’s goals.

Regions 1 and 2

Roger Gutierrez, ATPE’s South Texas representative, was an educator in Weslaco for 18 years before coming to work for ATPE. He has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Texas–Pan American. Roger joined ATPE in 1996 and has served in various volunteer roles at the local, region, and state level. During Roger’s spare time, you will likely find him barbequing and spending time with his family, enjoying Avengers cartoons with his son, or taking in some Sunday football.

Cynthia Villalovos is ATPE’s representative for the Houston area. Cynthia started her ATPE career in 1995 as one of the founding officers of McMurry University ATPE, and her education career in Wylie ISD in Abilene in 1996. She received her master's degree in school administration from Sul Ross State University in 2003; soon after, she moved to Houston and held a position at Chavez High School. In 2005, Cynthia became the principal at the Health Academy at Lee High School, and in 2006, she became the principal of the Health Academy at Waltrip High School. Throughout that time, Cynthia held various offices within ATPE, including serving as the Houston ATPE president during 2012-13 and the ATPE Region 4 secretary in 2013. Cynthia is also the proud mom of one daughter, who may very well be a future volunteer leader within ATPE.

Ginger Franks, from East Texas, is one of ATPE’s newest regional representatives. Before becoming an ATPE regional representative, Ginger was a special education teacher for 34 years in Martinsville and Woden and has been an ATPE member for 30 years. She even served as the 2013-14 state president of ATPE. Ginger and her husband Carl are proud grandparents of two grandbabies, and spend as much time with their families as they can. Carl Franks has been in education for 25 years and Ginger’s two sisters have both worked in education for many years. Ginger has truly dedicated herself to public education through the years and continues to do so now with ATPE.

Kaki Spronz became the Dallas area representative early in 2016. Before becoming an ATPE regional rep, Kaki taught high school Spanish, regular and pre-AP, for four years. She was also the Denton local unit university liaison. While teaching, Kaki earned a professional development grant to study advanced grammar and participate in workshops at Academia Buenos Aires. In her spare time, Kaki coaches CrossFit. Kaki completed undergraduate studies at Hardin-Simmons University and earned a master’s in foreign language education from the University of Texas at Austin.

Diane Pokluda, ATPE’s representative for the North Texas/Fort Worth area, was a classroom teacher for 34 years before moving into her current position. During her career in education, Diane served in several ATPE leadership positions from the local to the regional level; she considers her time as Region 11 ATPE director to be one of the most rewarding experiences of her career. During her spare time, Diane enjoys traveling with her husband, Steve, who is also a dedicated ATPE member. They are also devoted Texas Rangers fans.

Heather Tuley is ATPE’s representative for Central Texas (the Austin and San Antonio area). Heather has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Texas A&M University (1998) and a master’s degree in education leadership with principal’s certification from Texas State University (2010). Heather taught elementary school for 12 years and also served as an ATPE ambassador in Lake Travis ISD. When she’s not working, Heather can be found boating or enjoying other outdoor activities in the Hill Country. Heather and her husband have one energetic little boy, Ryder, born in February 2015.

Chana Jones serves ATPE members in West Texas. Before joining ATPE as a regional representative, Chana was a public school teacher for nine years and an ATPE member for 12 years. She comes from a family of educators and is passionate about Texas public education. Chana is a graduate of Angelo State University, holds a bachelor’s of science degree in interdisciplinary studies, and has a master’s of education degree in reading. She also holds several teaching certificates and understands the challenges and rewards of working in a public school. Chana and her husband, Casey, reside in the Snyder area.

To find your region, enter your ISD name into the search bar beneath the Texas map on ATPE’s home page.

Not a member of ATPE? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest educators’ association.

]]>Tue, 18 Oct 2016 15:33:24 GMT3b0d6ee1-d127-4798-90ff-f9cf88207cbc

Many Texas teachers are finding that their district is using a new appraisal system, the T-TESS (Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System). Teachers who will be appraised under the T-TESS should receive a local orientation into the process.

Two ATPE state office staff members recently observed the training that T-TESS appraisers received. ATPE will be providing information about the T-TESS, focusing on practical tips, based on what we have learned. Here are two tips to help you navigate the new system:

Can an appraiser require a teacher to put particular things in the teacher’s Goal Setting and Professional Development Plan?

The general answer to this question in most cases would likely be yes. The T-TESS rules state that the appraiser must approve the plan, and, practically, this gives the appraiser “veto” authority. If the appraiser is the principal or someone who has the general authority to give a directive, that again would give the appraiser the right to require particular provisions in the plan. But, even if this is the general rule, a teacher might have a legitimate complaint if the requirement is not reasonable.

Can I be observed the day before a holiday?

The Professional Development and Appraisal System (PDAS) required individual school districts develop a local observation calendar but also prohibited formal observations on some days, like the day before a holiday. The T-TESS rules also require the local district to develop an observation calendar. But the T-TESS rules do not include the same restrictions. The T-TESS rules only prohibit formal observations in the two weeks after a teacher’s initial orientation and require that all formal observation be completed at least 15 working days before the last day of student instruction. Local districts are still free to prohibit observations on other days, like the day before a holiday in their local policy.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of Texas’s largest educator association.

]]>Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:29:00 GMT6fdfde4a-90de-4f4c-9381-3de2ac606e85

As our political system grows ever more divisive, it has become increasingly important to encourage civic mindedness and thoughtful reflection in our students. US government teacher Kim Grosenbacher shares her tips for keeping classroom political conversations civil and improving students’ critical thinking skills.

Set guidelines for political conversations. Before you start discussing hot-button issues, make sure students know they should refrain from speaking out if what they are going to say will hurt someone else. Let them know that if they show you that they’re not mature enough for the conversation, you will stop the discussion and move on.

Redirect heated conversations with a question. If a conversation is getting uncomfortable, stop the discussion and ask students a question that reframes the conversation. Make sure students are focused on the policy, not the person.

Have students write it down. If temperatures rise, consider stopping the discussion and having students write down their thoughts. This way they will still think through everything they wanted to say without offending anyone or inflaming the situation further. Let them know that what they write will be only for you to read and that it will not be graded.

Don’t be afraid to play devil’s advocate. If your students all agree on a topic, don’t be afraid to take the other side, even if it doesn’t represent your own beliefs. Always ask students why they feel the way they do. Ask them to back up what they say with facts and research. Don’t let them say things like “It’s in the Constitution” without providing an explanation. Make them tell you where.

Don’t share your personal opinions. Always present both sides of the issue fairly, regardless of your own beliefs. If students ask for your opinions on the issue, redirect the conversation. I tell students that it shouldn’t matter to them what I believe. I have both Democrat and Republican flags in my classroom.

Have students do “field experience.” I have required students to engage in the community by doing such things as going to a school board meeting, picking up trash, or interviewing a veteran. Requiring students to get out in the world and make firsthand observations will both encourage them to be more civic minded and give them greater perspective that they can then bring back to your classroom. (As a side note, local veterans are a great community resource! They typically love to share stories and frequently have local contests that students can participate in.)

Open your classroom with CNN Student News.CNN Student News is a great resource for middle and high school level teachers It gives students perspective on current events and provides great fodder for classroom.

Encourage students to look at different kinds of sources. At the beginning of the year, I have students conduct research without giving them guidelines on what type of source they should use. They frequently come back with sources from Snapchat or other social media sites. I then require them to look at more rigorous sources, such as the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, or the Christian Science Monitor. They sometimes balk at the longer articles, but they learn that greater details help complete the story more. Of course, I tell them that there are biases in all sources—but if you look at the same story in several different places, you can usually get a more well-rounded perspective.

Kim Grosenbacher is a high school social studies teacher in Boerne ISD. She has been teaching for 15 years and has been an ATPE member for 11 years.

Do you teach politics in your classroom? Post your own tips below.

Not an ATPE member? Join today to become part of the largest educators’ association in Texas.

]]>Fri, 07 Oct 2016 20:58:31 GMTdb6eecd7-ee95-42a5-9497-8a3393728761

Taking part in ATPE’s STAR (Success Through ATPE Recruitment) Membership Challenge is easy! Volunteer leaders who recruit five or more new 2016-17 professional, first-time professional, or associate members by Oct. 31, 2016, are eligible to enter and will receive a gift in December 2016. The volunteer leader who recruits the most new members during that time will be named ATPE SuperSTAR and will receive $1,000. The runner-up will receive $500. For guidelines and an official entry form, see atpe.org/star.

As an added bonus, if you recruit one new member between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2016, you will be eligible to receive a $10 Amazon or $10 Starbucks gift card. (Limit one gift card per recruiter.) For guidelines and an official entry form, see atpe.org/each-one-reach-one.

Most of us know from a young age what we want to do when we grow up and enter the adult world. At 17 or 18, we graduate from high school and begin to embark on the journey that we choose to take.

Then there are those of us who wind up on a completely different path from the one we planned for ourselves. At 18 years old, I graduated at the top of my class and knew I wanted to go to college but didn’t quite know what I wanted to do. I came from a family of nurses, so in my mind that was the best way to go. I loved working with and being around children, and I thought nursing was the best way to fulfill that dream.

Then life happened and I had my first child at 19 years old. That reality changed everything I thought I knew. My son was three months premature and spent the first three months of his life in the NICU (neo-natal intensive care unit). After watching the care that my son was given by his nurse practitioner, I knew that was what I wanted to do.

Then life happened again, and I found myself married and, within a few more years, with another child. By then my son was starting his school years, and I had begun to see that he was having a hard time in school. I had started teaching my children at a young age so that they would be ready for pre-K and kindergarten, but none of us is perfect. I worked harder with my son so that he would be where he needed to be.

One day a good friend of mine saw how I was taking the time and patience to work with my son, and she encouraged me to become a teacher. The thought had crossed my mind from time to time, especially when I had my second child, but I had not strayed from my original path. The thought of being able to impact someone else’s life and helping them grow through teaching them what I knew thrilled me. So in 2014, after much thinking and a lot of prayer, and after getting to my last semester of prerequisites for nursing, I decided to pursue a career in teaching. I was happy that I would not only get to work with children but also be able to use my new skills to further help my own children.

I am very excited about the path that I have chosen and about the endless possibilities that lie ahead. I graduate in May 2017 with my bachelor’s in education. I will be certified in early childhood through sixth grade. Once I have completed that, I will go back for my master’s to pursue a career as a principal, and soon thereafter, I will go back for my doctorate and become a superintendent!

Becoming an educator has helped me see that I am a leader. It just took the right avenue for me to be able comfortably show those skills. The sky is the limit and the opportunities are endless. I have learned that to achieve my dreams, I must sit down and write out a plan and, once that plan is written, follow through with it.

My children have been my biggest motivation for pursing my career. I see so much growth not only in them but also in myself.

It has not always been easy, but throughout everything I have stayed in faith. If I can impact just one life, I will know that I have done my job.

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from our staff members. Today’s post features our receptionist, Mary Rivera.

What drew you to working for ATPE?

Six years ago, I applied for the receptionist position at ATPE. I was immediately interested in working for ATPE since it was affiliated with education. I come from a big, Texas-sized family, and my parents instilled in us the value of getting a college degree. My dad deliberately bought a house close to UT to make it easy for us to do. I have always been an advocate for education, and many people in my family are educators. Three of my children have worked for Austin ISD, and my husband works for Austin ISD now, so I always know what’s happening in the education system.

How long have you been working for ATPE? What was your first job here?

I am currently the receptionist at ATPE. This year at summit, I was recognized for reaching five years of service to ATPE. Time goes quickly, especially at the beginning of the school year.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned while working here?

ATPE is an association that fully collaborates and is focused on our members, schoolchildren, and the educational system of Texas. Our Marketing and Communications Department is constantly reporting, photographing, designing, and writing for the association. Membership and Legal Departments are on constant calls to provide our members with continuous service. I have observed that there are a lot of devoted people working for ATPE, such as our employees, board members, and volunteers. Before I came here, I never had been exposed to an organization that helps our Texas school employees to this capacity.

What is your favorite part of working at ATPE?

I love the culture here at ATPE. There are so many personalities in our work place, and I find it interesting to see the talents of my co-workers in their respective job duties. It still amazes me when I see the teamwork that it takes to run this organization. And I love being off for two weeks in December! It allows me to spend time with my husband and grandkids.

Share something fun about yourself that ATPE members might not know.

I contemplated becoming a teacher or nurse but decided to pursue a degree in commercial art. After graduating from college, I worked in the art field for six years. Later, while raising my children, I went to work for the City of Austin, as a customer service representative. That’s where I developed my fast and efficient customer service skills. I am also a freelance artist. In my spare time, I enjoy restoring and painting small statues among other art projects. I am currently working on a religious coloring book. I would eventually like to reproduce it and sell it.

]]>Thu, 29 Sep 2016 14:15:21 GMT806fb617-dde8-4888-8312-de04702424f3

An election year is a great time to teach students about the political process! US government teacher Kim Grosenbacher shares five tips for engaging students during an election season and encouraging them to vote.

Become a volunteer voter registrar. Contact your local election office and become a volunteer voter registrar so you can personally register the eligible students at your high school. Students can register in Texas when they are 17 and 10 months. This will help students who turn 18 between the election date and the 30-day voter registration deadline. Have students research the voter registration process at votetexas.gov.

Share local sample ballots with your students. It’s important for students to understand that they are voting for not only a presidential candidate but also state and local candidates. This year so many have shared that they do not want to vote for either candidate, but the reality is the ballot contains multiple candidates who are seeking elected office. Democracy only works when people actively participate in it.

Help students discover their political ideology. Have them go to isidewith.com to take a political ideology quiz that will align them with a particular candidate. This will give them a starting point in researching and seeking out whom to endorse or vote for.

Have students research the candidates. Students should research the current candidates and the issues they are supporting. Don’t reinvent the wheel—use resources that are designed to help you teach the election. I have students research the major candidates and come up with speaking points on why they would vote for that particular candidate. Student News Daily is a great resource. Have them research candidates using their own websites. Here are the candidates’ websites (in alphabetical order):

Engage in classroom discussion and debate. Now that your students are familiar with the candidates and their issues, it’s time to discuss and debate. Pose a question on an issue or a candidate and ask them to argue a side. Explain that everyone has a right to be heard and that your classroom is a safe learning environment in which to share your opinion. I challenge my students to come up with three speaking points on why we should vote for their candidate. In each class, randomly call on students to share their speaking points and convince the class why we should vote for their candidate. I use a randomizer app called ClassDojo. This is a great teaching tool that helps organize how many times I call on a student—it keeps my students engaged and ready to answer questions!

Kim Grosenbacher is a high school social studies teacher in Boerne ISD. She has been teaching for 15 years and has been an ATPE member for 11 years.

One of the best ways for ATPE members to save money is by using ATPE’s services and discounts! Through ATPE’s online mall, you can earn cash back by shopping at your favorite stores—Kohl’s, Target, Nordstrom, Zappos, Sephora, and more!

We did some research to find out what other stores offer Texas educators discounts, and our collected list is below. Happy shopping!

In addition, ATPE members can save tons on school supplies, insurance, car rentals, hotels, and more!

Log in to your ATPE account and visit the services and discounts page at atpe.org for more information.

Not an ATPE member? Join today at atpe.org/join to recoup the cost of your membership (and then some!) through ATPE’s services and discounts.

]]>Wed, 21 Sep 2016 15:21:22 GMT5ff70839-825f-4644-a459-33f2b67393b3

Imagine a $500 shopping spree to buy items for your classroom! One lucky ATPE professional member and one ATPE first-time professional member will each get $500 to revamp their classroom! It's easy to qualify for a chance to win--simply make sure you renew your ATPE membership for 2016-17 by Sept. 30, 2016.

If you were an ATPE student teacher member last year, make sure you renew as a first-time professional. Let your colleagues who haven't yet joined ATPE know about this great opportunity to win as well!

Photo: Kaci Byrom of LaVernia ISD won a $500 classroom makeover from ATPE in 2015.

]]>Tue, 20 Sep 2016 15:08:41 GMT210a1bf4-ea66-4709-82a8-2820cc780fb1

I am always amazed during the year when I ask students who their teacher is and they respond with, “I don’t know her name. She has brown hair. I think.” Ok. What is the name of one person who sits near you in a class? “Um. One kid sharpens his pencil a lot.”

What is the possibility that students can go months without knowing the people they spend five hours a week with? Their fear of talking to others is irrational.

Therefore, I make sure this doesn’t happen in my classroom.

Divide into groups: Frequently, I divide students into groups. Sometimes I will use stickers distributed to students to form groups. Other times, I will cut a postcard and ask students to assemble to puzzle.

Multiply students’ comfort in class: Creating groups in such manners helps to multiply students’ comfort in class. Instead of being nervous when I call for groups, students have a place to land and we can get started with the activities.

Subtract fear of taking chances: Frequently changing seats and groups subtracts students’ fear of taking chances. After a few weeks, students know each other’s names and can create small talk.

Add surprise to your class: The best part of random grouping is that it adds a bit of surprise to the class. Students want to know why you are handing them a playing card or some other such item when they walk in into a room.

Helping students work in groups is an equation for absolute value in the real world. Maybe then they can learn their teachers’ names!

Allison Venuto, co-hostess of the podcast Ideal ISD, has been teaching in the Dallas area for 11 years and owns Ducks in a Row Personal Organizing. Connect with her at www.ducksinarowdallas.com.

]]>Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:12:46 GMT02cd5ef7-168e-4d60-8143-90f0f7ce27d6

School has only been back in session for a few weeks, but educators are already feeling the heat. Here are eight quick tips for managing your stress during the school year.

Prioritize time for yourself during the school year. Take time to indulge in your hobbies, and don’t feel guilty about it. Make a list of three things you want to do for yourself every week—and stick with it.

Don’t be afraid to say no. Think carefully before you agree to take on additional tasks. If you’re not sure you feel comfortable or ready for a new responsibility, turn it down. Scaling back your responsibilities can help you stay focused and energized throughout the year.

Take a day off. Everyone needs a break sometimes, especially educators! Don’t be afraid to use your personal days to refresh yourself.

Get plenty of sleep. Ideally, you should get seven to eight hours a night. Sleep loss causes irritability, forgetfulness, and lack of concentration, which can make a tough job even harder. If getting to bed early enough to get this much sleep is difficult, consider setting an alarm to remind yourself of your bedtime.

Get moving on your breaks. Even if you don’t have time to take a walk, make a point of getting some quick exercise in at your desk. Try doing some stretches to relieve tension. See this list of simple desk stretches for ideas.

Make time to unplug. Taking planned breaks from your electronic devices will help you refocus yourself during the day. Consider scheduling your unplugged time during the hour before you go to bed.

Breathe. Take a few deep breaths whenever you start to feel stressed during the day. Review these breathing exercises for tips.

Talk to your colleagues. When you’re stressed, talking to others who understand what you’re going through can help ease the burden. But be careful not to let conversations get negative. Work together to brainstorm solutions to your problems, and do your best to keep a positive attitude.

The Fall 2016 edition of our award-winning ATPE News is now available online.

In this edition, we:

Discuss testing, educator preparation and salaries, and the future of Texas public schools with Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath

Provide classroom management tips and ways to keep students engaged

Share tips on what to do when you suspect one of your students is struggling with mental health issues

Offer new information on the Districts of Innovation law

As always, you will also see what other ATPE local units have been up to and learn about ways the association is continuing its mission of making a difference in the lives Texas educators and students!

In this issue we also introduce our new Brain Break column, which you’ll find on the back page of the magazine. You’ll find the answers for our first crossword puzzle below:

The conversations... The strategies... The ideas... The networking… The sessions... The speakers... The tweets...

All of these ingredients and more make for what will be a thrilling and informative recipe in Austin at AMLE2016, the 43rd Annual Conference for Middle Level Education, October 9-12. 2016. Middle grades educators are critical participants in the kitchen of teaching and learning, and like all chefs, it’s vital for us to hone our skills, renew our passions, and develop professionally. Strong, responsive professional learning supports everything we do in our schools, and not only do we benefit and grow from it, but perhaps more importantly, our students gain and blossom as well.

With more than 500 sessions and 150 exhibits, AMLE2016 is powerful professional learning you can’t afford to miss. And you get to meet and learn from middle level education thought leaders like Rosalind Wiseman, Robert Balfanz, Rick Wormeli, Debbie Silver, Marcia Tate, Dave Burgess, and dozens more.

Conference attendees tell us:

The conference is chock full of sessions that are relevant to middle schools. If you're about improving middle schools, this is the conference you need to attend!

I learned more in two days, practical strategies to be able to put into practice immediately, than I have in years of PLC and other conferences. It was life-altering.

The conference was both encouraging and challenging. I came home not just with new information but with actual steps I can take to improve my teaching, leadership, and attitude.

As a new administrator, it was an amazing experience to be able to sit at the table with veterans with a broad range of knowledge and from varying regions of the country.

You can take a look at the full list of sessions, all of which are included with your registration. And we’re treating you to lunch on Monday and Tuesday.

It’s the best middle grades learning in the world, and it’s coming to Austin for the first time ever. We recommend that you bring a team to get the most of your experience while enjoying a discounted registration rate. If you’re in ESC 13 or 20, you get a great rate by registering directly through your ESC. Check your school calendar…many Texas school districts have a staff development or in-service day during this time.

AMLE2016 is designed to help you reach every student, grow professionally, and create a great school. We can’t wait to see you there!

April Tibbles is chief communications officer for the Association for Middle Level Education.

Many Texas teachers returning for the new school year are finding that their district is using a new appraisal system, the T-TESS (Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System). Teachers who will be appraised under the T-TESS should receive a local orientation into the process.

Two ATPE state office staff members recently observed the training that T-TESS appraisers received. ATPE will be providing information about the T-TESS, focusing on practical tips, based on what we have learned. Here are two tips to help you get this school year started right:

Start the year off by working with your students to create standards and expectations for class behavior. The T-TESS is all about student engagement in the learning process, and that includes the classroom environment. After you and your class have determined your expectations, create a poster or document that you can refer to in class so the appraiser can see that you’ve worked with the students on classroom management. Of course, be sure that your class rules are consistent with the student code of conduct and any other campus or district policy and check with your administrator if you think something might be controversial. And be sure and describe the student involvement to your appraiser in your goal-setting conference, preconference (if you have one), or some other appropriate time.

Use your goal-setting conference or preconference to discuss with your appraiser what they’ll be looking for in terms of student involvement. The T-TESS training and scoring rubric emphasizes student involvement in the learning process but provides little practical guidance. You may have received more specific instructions during your T-TESS orientation on how to incorporate students into your planning and classroom. But obviously expectations will differ depending on your appraiser and subject matter.

Whether it’s your first year in the classroom or your thirtieth, a new school year brings new challenges and new rewards. Here are five tips to get your year off to a great start.

Take the time to get to know your students. The better you know your students, and the better they know and respect you, the more control you’ll have over your classroom throughout the year. Plus, knowing your students well and understanding how they interact with each other will help you plan more successful group work. Scholastic has some helpful suggestions on how to get acquainted with your students.

Reach out to parents within the first couple of weeks. Parents can be your strongest allies in making sure students stay on target throughout the school year. Reaching out to them early and making sure they feel valued will go a long way toward developing and maintaining a positive relationship with these vital education partners. For more tips, see ATPE’s Professional Learning Portal class, Parental Involvement and Outreach.

Set a positive classroom environment. Developing a healthy classroom culture from the beginning will help students feel more comfortable expressing themselves and will help you maintain control over your classroom. Set firm but reasonable classroom guidelines and communicate these with students. Consider allowing students to give their input on the classroom rules. This will reinforce those rules and give students a greater sense of ownership over the class and their behavior.

Start with a clean slate. Don’t come in with preconceived notions about your students. No matter what you’ve heard from other educators or what experiences you’ve already had with students, let this new year be a new beginning.

Take care of yourself. If you are proactive about incorporating wellness activities into your routine from the beginning of the year, taking care of yourself will become a habit that will be hard to break once things get more stressful. See ATPE’s Pinterest page for some ideas on how to maintain your sanity during the school year.

What are your top tips for the school year?

Is there a topic you’d like to see covered in ATPE Tips and Tricks? Email comm@atpe.org with suggestions.

]]>Tue, 30 Aug 2016 14:26:13 GMT1a7574f7-27ed-4b44-80a3-a6a1b20860a4

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from our staff members. Today’s post features Executive Assistant Amy Dodd.

What drew you to working at ATPE?
Before coming to work for ATPE, I was the administrative assistant in the Central Division office for AVID. The decision was made to move the AVID office from Austin to Dallas, and that was not a move I wanted to make. I had two small children at the time (I now have three), and my entire support system was in the Austin area. That is when my job hunt began! I really wanted to stay in the educational nonprofit world, and I was very excited when I found the job opening at ATPE! It makes me proud to work for an organization that makes a difference in the lives of my children and all the children in Texas.

How long have you been working at ATPE? What was your first job here?
I have been working as the executive assistant at ATPE for just over two years.

What is the most important thing you have learned while working here?
Parliamentary procedure! In my role as executive assistant, one of my tasks is to take the minutes during board meetings and during the annual House of Delegates meeting. Knowing parliamentary procedure is very helpful when taking meeting minutes. One of the first things I purchased after coming to ATPE is a book called Robert’s Rules for Dummies. That book has been very helpful, and I refer to it often. I am no parliamentarian, but I have learned a great deal in my first two years here.

What is your favorite part of working at ATPE?
My favorite part of working at ATPE is meeting all of the different people from across the state. At AVID, I worked with teachers in the central United States, outside of Texas. It has been really fun for me to work with teachers in my home state. Plus, my oldest child started kindergarten last year, and it was really helpful for me to talk to teachers about what to expect, and get the inside scoop, so to speak. I’m still new to this whole school parent thing, and a lot has changed since I was in school! You should have seen me trying to read my daughter’s first report card!

I also have to mention that my favorite event at ATPE is the annual summit! I worked at conferences during my time at AVID, but my role was small. At summit, not only do I have a big role in the planning of the event, but I also have the opportunity to observe the House of Delegates meeting from the stage! It is really interesting to watch decisions being made on the business of the association from that vantage point.

Share something fun about yourself that members might not know.
I’m a fifth-generation Austinite and a second-generation University of Texas graduate! I was actually a member of the Longhorn Band during my first two years at UT and was in the stadium when UT won the first Big XII championship! I played the marching French horn, called a mellophone. I am also an avid crafter. My great grandmother taught me to crochet when I was 10, and my grandmother has recently been teaching me to sew! I love searching Pinterest for new projects to make with my children, and I spend my few free minutes each night after they go to sleep working on one thing or another. Remember those pom-poms on the tables at the Summit Awards Banquet? Yep, I made those!

Log on to your ATPE account or call us at (800) 777-ATPE (2873) to check your membership status.

Important dates to remember:

Sept. 30 – Renew your membership no later than September 30, 2016, in order to ensure continuous eligibility for professional liability insurance benefits. If renewing online, you must renew no later than Sept. 29, 2016. If you do not renew before then, your eligibility for the employment rights protection will be delayed for 30 days after your membership date.

Oct. 31 – Deadline for first-time professional educators to take advantage of the discounted rate of $90.

Please contact the ATPE membership department at 800-777-2873 if you have any questions.

]]>Mon, 22 Aug 2016 21:08:13 GMTe51592ba-ff0f-4360-bb3d-a410149dd0a2

The 2016 ATPE Summit exceeded expectations! We hope you make plans to join us again (or for the first time) next summer. In addition to hearing inspiring speakers, learning new leadership skills, and dancing the night away at our epic dance party, voting members at the House of Delegates (HOD) made decisions that will guide our association into the future. Below are a few highlights from bylaws amendments that delegates passed:

An annual dues increase will be implemented for professional and associate members to ensure ATPE can continue offering the best benefits program in Texas.

A new administrator membership category will apply to principals; assistant, deputy, and area superintendents; and superintendents.

Candidates for state office will be required to have served as a local unit or region leader at least once in the last five years.

Two prefiled resolutions were passed. One establishes a recruitment reward program for retirees and another states that the ATPE Board of Directors will consider submitting a 2017 bylaws amendment to the ATPE Bylaws Committee that would allow ATPE ambassadors to serve as voting delegates at the HOD.

Welcome to our new blog series, Tips and Tricks, where we provide practical classroom advice. You’ll find our Tips and Tricks every other Tuesday on the ATPE Blog, so check back regularly! This week’s post is on social media in the classroom.

Social media is a valuable tool, but incorporating it into your lessons can be a daunting task. Here are six quick tips for using social media in your classroom:

Use social media as a class. You can work together to update a class Facebook page with projects or other posts, or to create a class channel on YouTube or a classroom podcast.

Use social media to reinforce class requirements and deadlines. Social media is a good tool for posting homework assignments, upcoming test dates, and project deadlines.

Create a class blog. Requiring your students to post to a class blog will help them improve their writing skills and encourage them to reflect on their assignments. Students should also read and comment on each other’s posts. This will spark conversation and debate among students within and outside of the classroom.

Bring outside experts into the classroom. Skype and other video chat services can help you connect your students with outside experts that you otherwise wouldn’t have access to.

Set classroom guidelines. Students should always be respectful when communicating via social media. Set guidelines early, and monitor student posts.

Know your district policy. Policies vary from campus to campus. Some schools encourage teachers to be highly active on Facebook and Twitter, while others prohibit any use of social media sites. If your school doesn’t have a policy, talk to your administrator about creating one.

What Tips and Tricks would you like to see on the ATPE Blog? Email comm@atpe.org with suggestions.

]]>Tue, 16 Aug 2016 17:49:28 GMTa8180793-8624-4518-9a6b-bbab71f1d514

So we started doing the school supply shopping this week. A daunting task even as the kids get older and the lists get shorter. Gone in my house are the days when the most expensive item on the list was the ever-elusive “just this size” binder. Now, we’re talking calculators that rival my electricity bill. But I sigh, watch the ads, and get out there and do it.

I put on my thickest armor because nothing will be just right for my kids. The kitty folders are too childish; the more mature ones are $200 a piece. Add to that the hysterical mobs crowding the $1 pencils like they were the last chance to win tickets to a 21 Pilots concert, and we have a joyfest that keeps on giving. (Insert sarcastic eye roll here).

Yes, I’m frustrated.

And let’s talk about that list, shall we? I mean, who in their right mind thinks it’s a good idea to request that our kids purchase Expo markers in bulk or boxes of Kleenex that should be supplied already? ESPECIALLY when those might not get used by my kids? Who thinks it should be my job to bring Ziploc bags to school?

Well, I’ll tell you who.

This mom.

I’m not going to buy just the one extra box of tissues because (let’s all be honest here) I can afford more than that. And *gasp* what if someone other than my precious Timmy uses them? Well, then, haven’t I done a good deed for the year for less than the cost of a coffee?

We should all be interested in what will create the best learning environment for allthese kids, for all these little people who will be making big decisions some day like what to do with YOUR Social Security or how to fix YOUR city infrastructure or how best to treat that cancerous mass in YOUR body.

If you don’t agree with something on the list and think it’s excessive, have a conversation with the teacher. I guarantee if it is something that will actually get used to educate your children, the teacher will be able to explain how.

Yes, Expo markers are expensive. Get in a classroom and watch children solve problems at their desks (sometimes ON them) with them and really engage in the process because it all of a sudden became colorful and perhaps a little bit taboo.

You think you have to buy too many glue sticks? I invite you to join a class when they do a simple sorting and gluing project that gives the kids one more opportunity to understand all the “-augh” words and their various pronunciations and watch multiple children go through half a stick just for that one project.

More is more, right? And yes, the theory is that you teach them to use less, but let’s be honest: some just use what they use. Watch kids “clean” the floor at the end of the day and, in a rush to get home, throw away all the “trash” they found, which includes half used pencils and crayons that would take too long to find a home for.

So, let’s fast forward to January. The supplies are no longer new and shiny, and more than a few have met their untimely trash can demise. Used and broken crayons look better in that circular file than in pencil boxes. Glue sticks that still have some in them but are not the easiest to use just aren’t worth it anymore. Markers find new homes in backpacks. Pencils that have no erasers have lost their appeal. Dry erase markers are dried up because they have been used to solve, spell, create. And then what happens?

Supplies that were an extra $10 from you at the beginning of the year for one kid become extras in your kid’s teacher’s cart at Target during a grocery run. And forget the $10. Oh no. Multiply that sucker by – how many kids were in that classroom? Was it 20? 30? Let’s see.

Does your job ask you to shell out a couple hundred bucks to upgrade your software or buy staples? And if it’s teaching your kid how to multiply better or be able to compose a sentence without referring to spell check, isn’t that extra $10 a little worth it?

I’m frustrated by our entitlement. We act like we’re doing the schools and the teachers a favor when we fill that backpack with tissues and markers.

Umm, let’s back up a minute. Aren’t they the ones doing us the favor?

I mean, are we willing to take a step (or 200) backward and fill in gaps caused by something as silly as a distracted kid (who then distracts others) because he can’t find a glue stick to finish his project? And yes, we went through school without some of these things, but these kids are more accustomed to bright and shiny. Maybe sad, but still true. And if bright and shiny go away, attention spans shorten, and kids are more disruptive. And guess what? Kids don’t learn as well then.

I’m frustrated that we can’t see just how big a job these incredibly underpaid teachers are undertaking. So, my suggestion is to watch for sales and stock up. Buy the extra box of tissues. Do the right thing and thank that teacher for all the efforts to make our future decision-makers great ones. Be frustrated with me for the right reasons.

Monica’s bio: I’m a dorky mom of a dog who thinks I hung the moon and a few teenagers who don't but who love me anyway. Trying to get through every bit of this vast undertaking of being a decent human being and the person my dog thinks I am, I do what I can to make things better while trying not to embarrass myself too much. I like to think I fight for what is right for our children and those who affect them every day. Weapon of choice? My much loved and incredibly worn keyboard. I worry a bit too much about what people think and about how to keep my car from looking like a trash can. At the end of the day, what I hope all will say about me is that my heart was in the right place and that I tried, albeit with a touch of sarcasm and the sense of humor of a toddler. Be kind, everyone; it's the best thing to be!

Views and opinions expressed in guest posts are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ATPE.

]]>Fri, 12 Aug 2016 15:23:18 GMT7ef4b7c0-a890-459f-9dca-79a8d593659f

A few years ago, a student offered to help setup my classroom prior to the start of school. I commented about how much her kindness meant and asked her how her summer went. She said she was bored and ready to get back to school. Not a comment we may hear a lot.

She explained that due to a lack of transportation or internet, she was at home watching TV for much of the summer while her parents were at work. School was a welcome relief from another rerun.

It’s starting to happen again. The closer we get to school, the more emails I get from students (preparing for and/or lamenting about) the start of a new year. Some offer help and others ask questions. As students reach out, have some ideas in mind to begin to engage them in school.

Publicize supply lists: While this happens at lower grade levels, teachers of secondary students sometimes assume students will know what to buy. Direct students to a list of items that will help them shop successfully.

Offer to read with students: Ask what they are reading and set up a mini book club. Students can recruit other members, and you can listen to the audiobook while at the pool or setting up for the year.

Open your classroom: Invite students to preview material for the year in a boot camp for skills. Or ask student to help setup your classroom, create locker decorations to welcome new students, or anything else you may need.

As the days heat up and the summer winds down, August is a great time to reach out to students who are weary of summer . . . even if they won't admit it . . . and ready to re-focus on school.

Allison Venuto, co-hostess of the podcast Ideal ISD, has been teaching in the Dallas area for 11 years and owns Ducks in a Row Personal Organizing. Connect with her at www.ducksinarowdallas.com.

]]>Thu, 11 Aug 2016 18:27:35 GMT8acd0f9a-c4a6-4971-b179-60b717ad8f23

Did you know ATPE partners with SXSWedu to offer CPE credits for lots and lots of awesome sessions? And right now, you can help choose the 2017 sessions! (ATPE has a proposal in the mix as well!)

We're also honored have two staff members, Maggie Susong and Leslie Trahan, selected to serve on the advisory board this year, so it's going to be a great year!

In high school I was lucky enough to sit in the classes of two teachers who forever made an impact on my life: Mrs. Bailey, my speech teacher, and Mr. Man, my English teacher. These two teachers believed in me, challenged me, and pushed me outside of my comfort zone to be my very best. They did not just instill in me that I “had potential” but actually pushed me to reach that potential. They helped me realize what I was capable of and gave me the confidence to do more, achieve more, and be more.

These two teachers had such an impact on who I was that I decided shortly after that I wanted to become a teacher and do the same for others: to help students not just see their potential but work toward it.

A few years later that dream became a reality and I found myself teaching Spanish 1 at Ryan High School in Denton. I loved my time in Denton and was grateful for my students, colleagues, and administration. As school started, I knew I needed to join ATPE. I had been a member as a student teacher, so it was a no-brainer that now that I had my own classroom, I needed to become a professional member. I registered online, and that was that.

It wasn’t until year two that I become involved, and only then by luck. I received an email from the Denton local unit that there would be a meeting that involved free dinner. For a young teacher, a free dinner was all it took—I was there. While there I met some very inspiring teachers. A member of the ATPE Governmental Relations team also came to speak about the teaching profession and how ATPE values both public education and teachers. Prior to that night I was a member just because I wanted the insurance coverage. It was at that meeting that I was hooked on the vision and goals of ATPE and decided to become involved with the Denton local unit. In the Denton local unit, I learned from some amazing teachers (thank you, Vicki Storrie!) and attended events such as Lobby Day and Summit, and even got to meet Wendy Davis.

This past semester, I was given the opportunity to step into my current role as the representative for Regions 8 and 10. I could not be more thankful to be part of such an incredible association that advocates on behalf of teachers and that truly is their voice and their ally. Although I am still new to working for ATPE, I have met some of the most incredible teachers—teachers who truly go above and beyond each and every day for their students because they believe the best of them.

Although no longer in the classroom, my professional dream has still come true; it just looks a little bit different than I initially imagined. I am thankful that I get to support members and local units and look forward to what the future holds for ATPE!

Kaki Spronz is ATPE’s representative for Regions 8 and 10. Before becoming an ATPE regional rep, she taught high school Spanish, regular and pre-AP, for four years. She was also the Denton local unit University Liaison.

On July 22, ATPE members gathered at summit to elect a new slate of officers for the coming year.

These officers (shown above) started their terms on August 1.

Your 2016-17 state officers are:

President Julleen Bottoms, from Region 12, is a 24-year education veteran with 21 years under her belt as an ATPE member. Bottoms, who previously served as ATPE’s state secretary, treasurer, and vice president, is a K-5 technology applications teacher and campus technical specialist at Corsicana ISD.

Vice President Carl Garner, from Region 10, is an ARD chair and MTI/inclusion teacher at Mesquite High School with 16 years in education and as an ATPE member. Garner has served as ATPE’s state secretary and treasurer.

Secretary Byron “Skip” Hildebrand, from Region 20, is a retired math teacher with 31 years of experience in education and 23 years as an ATPE member. Hildebrand was the 2015-16 ATPE treasurer.

Past President Cory Colby, from Region 6, is an AP and dual credit government and US history teacher at Willis ISD. Colby, who has served as ATPE’s state president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer, has been an educator and an ATPE member for nine years.

From left to right in photo: Cory Colby, Tonja Gray, Byron Hildebrand, Carl Garner, and Julleen Bottoms

]]>Thu, 04 Aug 2016 19:45:02 GMT6c5604ef-6506-4c67-99f8-55e43f21c6ca

Welcome to our new blog series, Tips and Tricks, where we provide practical advice for educators. You’ll find our Tips and Tricks every other Tuesday on the ATPE Blog, so check back regularly! This week’s post is on interviewing.

Interviewing for a new job can be a stressful process, but a little bit of preparation will go a long way toward easing your anxiety. Here are a few tips for a successful job interview, whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned veteran.

Research the school you’re applying to. Impress your interviewer by being well versed in the issues that affect the population the school serves. The school’s and district’s websites, current and past parents and employees, web searches, and public databases such as the Texas Public Schools Explorer and SchoolDigger.com are all good sources of information.

Bring several copies of your cover letter, résumé, and references. Even if you’ve already sent these in electronically, it’s a good idea to have printed copies on hand during the interview.

Bring an interactive notebook that includes samples of your work. This can include projects, tests, quizzes, anchor charts, assignments, lesson plans, and syllabi.

Bring an example of a successful lesson you have taught and be prepared to present that lesson.

Be prepared to show how you have used STAAR and benchmark data to drive your lessons.

Provide examples of your collaborative efforts (for example, as part of a team or professional learning community).

Bring examples of literacy strategies and be prepared to explain them.

Bring examples of ways to integrate technology.

Be ready to answer classroom management questions, and illustrate your answers with personal examples when you can.

Don’t volunteer for something you aren’t interested in.

Good luck on your interview and in the coming school year! For more in depth job search tips, see ATPE’s new Professional Learning Portal class, Getting Yourself in Shape to Shape Minds, hosted by administrator Karen McCoskey.

Many thanks to ATPE Regional Representative Cynthia Villalovos. Cynthia is a former administrator who offered lots of great advice for this blog post!

What Tips and Tricks would you like to see on the ATPE Blog? Email comm@atpe.org with suggestions.

]]>Tue, 02 Aug 2016 21:40:47 GMT1a05ed32-787d-4d6e-ab21-ab74d97b95ad

ATPE award winners were announced at the 2016 ATPE Summit, which was held July 20-22 in Austin.

Charles Pickitt Educator of the Year Award

This award recognizes ATPE members who demonstrate exceptional or innovative capabilities in their respective educational fields. The winners are:

This award acknowledges ATPE volunteers who are fundamental to the continued growth and development of our grassroots organization. The winners are:

Local units with 1-200 members—Sherry Boyd, Spearman ATPE

Local units with 201-500 members—Kally Evans, Willis ATPE

Local units with 501+ members—Michael Balderas, Edinburg ATPE

Local Unit of the Year Award

This award acknowledges local unit efforts and accomplishments during the year. The winners are:

Local units with 1-200 members—Santa Rosa ATPE

Local units with 201-500 members—Pharr-San Juan-Alamo

ATPE Local units with 501+ members—Weslaco ATPE

University local units—Tarleton State University

ATPE Excellence in Communications Award

This award recognizes outstanding local unit communications. The winners are:

Local units with 1–200 members—La Porte ATPE

Local units with 201-500 members—Boerne ATPE

Local units with 501+ members—Brownsville

ATPE Alafair Hammett Media Award

Named for ATPE’s first president, this award recognizes individual local media reporters for their outstanding support and coverage of public education. The recipients are:

Julie Chang, Austin American-Statesman, Austin

Ashlei King, KABB TV, San Antonio

Mark Wiggins, KVUE TV, Austin

Judy Coyle Texas Liberty Award

This award, ATPE’s highest honor, is presented to individuals who demonstrate superior service to public education. This year, the Judy Coyle Texas Liberty Award was presented to the Honorable Senator Bill Haley.

Congratulations to all of our award winners! Learn more about ATPE awards, including application deadlines and how to apply.

During my entire career in education, I have worked with students 16 and up. When I tell someone this, I generally receive wide eyes and a “How can you do that?” comment in return.

However, when I meet someone who teaches the other end of the educational spectrum, those who teach students four and younger, my eyes widen and I make the same comment!

I can't imagine teaching students that young.

And then I met the World's Greatest Nephew. Followed shortly thereafter by the World's Greatest Niece. Upon their arrivals, I started to read more about educational strategies to use with younger children.

This summer, I read 30 Million Words: Building a Child’s Brain by Dana Suskind, MD. The author recounts her journey working with hearing-impaired children and how it led her to learn more about early childhood education.

Thirty pages in, I sent the title to my mother and a preschool teacher friend, basically making them promise to read the book immediately. Three hundred pages and three weeks later, I’m still talking about it. The thesis will probably stick with me forever.

Throughout my career, I have worked with students who are first-generation college attendees and/or students living in poverty, and this book helped me better understand their struggle in school.

In Suskind’s research, students who grow up hearing fewer words prior to elementary school (typically those who grew up in poverty), struggle to keep up with their peers throughout their entire educational career. Students who have a gap at three years old, without interventions, will continue to have a gap as they age.

Suskind started a foundation that seeks to educate parents, caregivers, and teachers on ways to help students decrease that gap (ThirtyMillionWords.org):

“Tune In by paying attention to what your child is communicating to you.

Talk More with your child using descriptive words to build his vocabulary.

Take Turns by encouraging your child to respond to your words and actions.”

I like the simplicity of the three steps. I'm not saying that the ideas in those steps are simple, merely that by breaking down years of research into three steps, adults are more likely to implement the steps while interacting with children in their lives.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who works with children, has children, or knows children because of the ease of writing style and the long-term effects of the actions. Although the ideas are specifically geared toward younger students, I’m certain that the ideas implemented anytime can impact a student. Suskind’s data and anecdotal stories convince readers of the immense impact that words have on a child's life.

Allison Venuto, co-hostess of the podcast Ideal ISD, has been teaching in the Dallas area for 11 years and owns Ducks in a Row Personal Organizing. Connect with her at ducksinarowdallas.com.

Views and opinions expressed in guest posts are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ATPE.

]]>Tue, 26 Jul 2016 14:43:41 GMT264274ae-8f2a-4cb2-b4ae-437fc9fa4be3

Assistant principal and ATPE member Karen McCoskey provides advice for job seekers in her new Professional Learning Portal class, Getting Yourself in Shape to Shape Minds. This course provides Texas teachers with information on certifications, tips on self-marketing, and interview advice. Access the ATPE Professional Learning Portal to view the course.

Karen McCoskey has been with Irving ISD and a member of ATPE for 24 years. She has taught elementary and high school English and ESL, and was an instructional technology specialist prior to going into administration. She has volunteered as an ATPE campus rep on several campuses, and has served as treasurer, vice president, and president for Irving ATPE.

New to the ATPE Professional Learning Portal?

The PL Portal provides you with access to on-demand webinars and continuing professional education courses available to ATPE members for free!

Are you an expert in your field?

Submit a course proposal form for the opportunity to share your knowledge with other educators and develop a continuing professional education course for ATPE. Questions? Email prof_dev@atpe.org.

Ginger Franks, ATPE’s new representative for Regions 5-7 and 12, reflects on her journey with ATPE and her time as a state officer. Before becoming a regional representative, Ginger was a longstanding ATPE member, and she has seen a lot of change in our organization over the years.

As you read about my ATPE journey, if you are a veteran member, I hope you will reminisce about your own journey, and if you are a new member, I hope you will dream about what your time at ATPE will bring.

I had been an ATPE member for about 15 years before I went to my first convention (the ATPE Convention was where members voted on governance issues and elected officers, which we now do at the ATPE Summit). I went with Sara Hill, a fellow local unit member who became my mentor. Sara was on the Nomination/Election Committee and had to bring along another member to help register attendees. The very first person I registered was Sheila Fields, who was running for state treasurer. She was so kind and patient with me; I really didn’t know for sure what I was doing. It was so exciting for me to see her win and later become state president! The memory of that House of Delegates is one I will always treasure. It was such an amazing experience for me. I was hooked and haven’t missed one in 16 years.

That summer, I went to my first Leader U (Leader U was ATPE’s leadership training event; leaders are now trained during the ATPE Summit). Sara Hill was supposed to go as well, but she was unable to make it. Another new member and I went on our own. We were nervous, but I have never felt as comfortable and welcomed as I did at that event. The Region 7 officers took us under their wing and inspired me to become an ATPE leader. But there is a sad memory. I was sitting with other ATPE members in the Hyatt Regency Hotel (all of Leader U was held there) by the water that used to flow through the lobby when we heard that John F. Kennedy, Jr., had been killed in a plane crash. As you know, unfortunate situations can bring out strong emotions in educators. The sadness we felt for the families of those in the crash, as well as for our country, forged a strong bond between those of us who were there at the time.

Other memorable moments in my journey are with the Woden local unit. We didn’t have much money, but we had an active, excited officer core. We would stay five to a room at convention and Leader U because we wanted to be there so desperately. It all paid off because Woden ended up getting the Saturation Award; we had 100% of our potential membership! Woden continues to be a strong local unit today.

I can’t share my journey without touching on my time as a state officer. Those five years will always be a treasure for me. The wonderful experiences and opportunities I had as a state officer helped me grow as an educator, a leader, and a person. I developed friendships that I will cherish forever, and I did things I never dreamed I would do. I orchestrated a campaign for state treasurer with the tagline “Vote Ginger Franks, the one that sounds like a spicy hotdog.” I lobbied on behalf of public education in Washington, DC. I met with education leaders from other countries (photo above). I talked in front of almost a thousand people to lead the House of Delegates. I stood on the house floor of the Texas Capitol as ATPE educators were recognized. I encourage you to consider whether running for state office would be right for you as well.

Presently my journey has brought me to my new position as an ATPE regional representative for Regions 5, 6, 7, and 12. I feel blessed to be a part of members’ journeys with ATPE! I am very proud of where we are and optimistic about the future of ATPE. It has always been and will continue to be the very best educators’ association in the nation. I look forward to continuing my journey and hope I have the opportunity to share in your journey as well.

Ginger Franks is ATPE’s representative for Regions 5-7 and 12. Before becoming an ATPE regional representative, Ginger was a special education teacher for 34 years and an ATPE member for 30 years. She was the 2013-14 president of ATPE.Check out Ginger's photo album here.

]]>Tue, 12 Jul 2016 14:14:30 GMTd52e2a03-a2c1-4f00-9f0b-5871c7fd0bae

ATPE volunteers work with staff to help new members join ATPE, to provide a valuable support network for members, to influence legislation, and to represent our organization. They also help ensure educators are treated fairly on campuses across the state, and that Texas public school students receive the quality education they deserve.

ATPE has members on almost every campus in the state, and we’re looking for volunteers who are ready to lead. We’ll provide the training, resources, and networks to ensure you can truly make a difference in the lives of Texas educators and students.

We couldn't do it without your help! It's a great time to volunteer for the state's largest educator group—ATPE!

If you're interested or have any questions, contact your local unit president or simply email us at member_services@atpe.org today!

]]>Thu, 07 Jul 2016 14:39:17 GMTd19cd42f-d446-486f-b771-59fbdabac7fe

In the last week or so, I’ve heard two teacher friends refer to themselves as Summer Robert and Summer Sara. You know. It’s that version of yourself that feels so free and relaxed during the summer. A version that is somehow lighter than School Robert and School Sara.

Deciding at the last minute to make bread for the dinner party we’re hosting later this evening, the dough is rising as I type. Because it’s summer, I had the time to give baking bread a second shot. Turns out, I probably need to give it another shot because it doesn’t seem like it’s working . . . but that is another blog.

I attempted a loaf earlier this school year, but it didn’t turn out well and, with my busy school calendar, I did not try again. Instead, I put baking bread on my Summer To Do List.

My Summer To Do List is an entry that I have in my calendar for the Monday after school releases. Some of the items on there are chores that I’m putting off or books that keep piling up, but other items are endeavors on which I want to spend more time.

Sure, I can bake bread during the school year, but somehow that seems like another chore to me, whereas, during the summer, baking feels like a reward.

Consider ways to organize your time to provide yourself some respite this summer. Block off whole days to explore a new area of your city, or catch up with beloved friends.

As educators we give so much during the year; use the summer to give to yourself.

Come over for some bread! Well . . . maybe after the next loaf!

Allison Venuto, an educator in Dallas who is still working on that perfect loaf, owns Ducks in a Row Personal Organizing, wherein she works with clients on developing their time, talents, and money. Please contact her with questions atallison@ducksinarowdallas.com.

Views and opinions expressed in guest posts are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ATPE.

]]>Tue, 05 Jul 2016 15:19:24 GMT0bcd6367-4d82-4456-b4de-a3b25a77dd1d

We hope you're having a great summer! While you're kicking back by the pool, would you take just five minutes to update your contact info?

Every year we have members who move to a new address, change districts, and retire, and we need to be sure we have your current contact information on file to ensure that you have access to all your benefits (including legal services!).

Welcome to our new series, which features posts about staff members at the ATPE state office. This week’s post features Donna Derryberry, member legal services director.

What drew you to working at ATPE?
As a former educator and a litigation attorney, I was excited by the prospect of a position that would allow me to combine my two professions. My previous firm represented clients in medical malpractice, business litigation, products liability, and mass torts at the national level, and due to the variety of cases, I found it difficult to develop an area of specialty. I celebrated the education and employment law niche I found at ATPE. I was employed at ATPE a few short months before reality set in as to the breadth and scope of the many issues the legal department deals with each day—any statute in the Texas Education Code and accompanying regulations, state and federal employment laws and regulations, certification agency rules, etc., etc. I discovered my niche in the law was a vast, ever-expanding legal beast. Nevertheless, it is my career niche and I have never regretted one moment leaping into this area of the law.

How long have you been working at ATPE? What was your first job here?
My time at ATPE has gone by so quickly. It is difficult to believe that in August of this year, I will start my 18th year at ATPE. When I first became employed with ATPE, I was a staff attorney. Approximately six months later, I began managing the legal department.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned while working here?
Education has changed immensely since my days in the classroom, with increasing accountability and advances in technology. When I taught school, I came to believe teaching was the second most challenging and rewarding job, next to being a great parent. While working at ATPE, I have learned that belief holds true today after experiencing education from the legislative, legal, and administrative agency side. I still believe a teacher can make a difference in a child’s life and teaching remains one of the most important professions regardless of the monetary value placed on it by society.

What is your favorite part of working at ATPE?
My favorite part of working at ATPE is very similar to why I enjoyed teaching—the people. In the education environment, it was other educators, colleagues, students, and parents. At ATPE, my favorite part is definitely our loyal members, volunteers, and leaders, and the committed ATPE staff. I am privileged and honored to work with such gifted staff who are devoted to serving ATPE members.

Share something fun about yourself that ATPE members might not know.
During my sixth year of teaching, I was fortunate enough to be selected as the Aldine District Teacher of the Year in Region 4. Coincidentally, that same year my mother, a long-time member of ATPE, was also selected as Missouri City District Teacher of the Year in Region 4. We competed against each other for Region 4 Teacher of the Year, and as it should have been, my mother was selected as Region 4 Teacher of the Year. (After loving and rearing me since birth, letting her win was the least I could do—just kidding, Mom!)

]]>Tue, 28 Jun 2016 14:29:08 GMTe3cda19a-f57f-4415-8b16-281ba10cda36

The 2016 ATPE Summit is just one month away! Summit attendees will elect state officers, debate amendments to ATPE’s bylaws, and set the course for the year ahead. If you’re attending summit this year, take the time now to familiarize yourself with the state officer candidates (click on each candidate’s name to see his or her campaign video), as well as the Legislative Program and bylaws amendments that will be voted on at summit.

Starting July 18, join our online professional learning community on the ATPE Idea Exchange as you read and discuss Mary Cay Ricci’s Mindsets in the Classroom: Building a Culture of Success and Student Achievement in Schools. This book is a roadmap to creating a growth mindset culture inspired by the notion that hard work and effort lead to success. To participate, register here and then leave a post under the “Sign Up Here!” forum. Be sure to check back regularly for new discussion questions. You can earn seven hours of CPE credit upon the completion of this book study. Happy Reading!]]>Tue, 21 Jun 2016 18:14:17 GMT948bf3fd-20f1-488d-94e9-29da64cf4131

For members only! With your help, we surpassed the goal of raising $23,000 for ATPE-PAC during the annual PAC’s Peak Challenge! We are happy to report that a total of $24,944 was raised, and we couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks to your investment, ATPE-PAC had the financial resources to support several candidates and officeholders who ultimately won their primaries. Their victories have helped us prepare for a challenging legislative session in 2017, but there is more work to be done. Give to ATPE-PAC today to help us support general election candidates who will fight for your profession and retirement. Even $5 goes a long way!]]>Thu, 16 Jun 2016 15:20:20 GMT9ce00d58-c899-49b6-86b5-195f33fd72c6

The Summer 2016 edition of our award-winning ATPE News is now available online. In this issue, we:

Highlight the new UIL robotics program.

Showcase an innovative alternative high school that provides a new path to graduation for non-traditional Texas students.

As always, you will also see what other ATPE local units have been up to and learn about ways the association is continuing its mission of making a difference in the lives Texas educators and students!

]]>Tue, 14 Jun 2016 13:52:27 GMT91d4e46b-4120-4a0e-9236-9fe84b15d826

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s post is from Region 20 director Tina Briones.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?
My campus rep invited and took me to my first ATPE convention. I was amazed at how professional it was conducted and how involved the members were because of the leadership. The members were treated with respect, and appreciation was apparent. Later that year, I was encouraged to run for office by the current region president. My first office in ATPE was region vice president. It was exciting!

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?
I take pride in being able to represent my region by partaking in the important votes (that take place during the Board of Directors meetings), which results in the direction our association will go.

How has being on the board helped your region?
Being on the board has given my region members full insight into the operations of ATPE. This position has also afforded me the opportunity to help build future ATPE leaders.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?
It's an inspiring position that can open leadership opportunities for you. When on the board, take every opportunity to understand every initiative presented to the board, the ins and outs of the budget, ask questions, contribute to the conversation, and always ask yourself before each vote, "Is this in the best interest of ATPE's future existence?"

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?
I brake for estate sales!

]]>Thu, 09 Jun 2016 16:14:29 GMT3becf149-4817-4d93-afa3-c92ba67aed67

The 2016 Summit mobile app is now available for download. Simply search for "2016 ATPE Summit" in the iTunes App Store or in Google Play. With the mobile app, you can build a personalized schedule, receive real-time important communications from ATPE, find attendees and connect with your colleagues, and much, much more!

The 2016 ATPE Summit is being held July 20-22 in Austin at the Austin Convention Center. Only local unit and region presidents can register and certify delegates. If you are interested in attending, contact your local unit or region president to register. If you don’t know who your local unit or region president is, contact our volunteer program coordinator at (877) 777-2873 or volunteer@atpe.org.

For more information on the 2016 ATPE Summit, including the tentative agenda, housing details, and answers to frequently asked questions, visit atpesummit.org.

]]>Tue, 07 Jun 2016 14:13:55 GMT174e5f03-8ce1-466a-858f-aed2fc9af67e

ATPE members have access to discounts on hotels, car rentals, theme parks, vacations, and cruises. When you plan for your summer vacation, make sure you explore all the savings and benefits that come with your ATPE membership.

Log in to your web account and visit the Save with ATPE page for more information.

]]>Thu, 02 Jun 2016 15:04:18 GMTaf5fd672-0789-4e94-b378-31bf13ee6f33

Members can begin enjoying ATPE’s discounts, taking advantage of our professional learning opportunities, and reading ATPE publications right away! Professional liability insurance and employment rights defense coverage* will begin on Aug. 1, 2016. It's easy to join online at ATPE.org.

We have new dues payment methods and options to make joining even easier. Payments can now be made via check, payroll deduction, credit/debit card (one-time payment or installments), or ACH/bank draft (one-time payment or installments).

*Eligibility, terms, and conditions apply.

]]>Tue, 31 May 2016 14:11:53 GMTfe98c2e8-95ba-4fe4-b960-4cb51fd245f6

Get ready for ATPE’s second annual Lip-Sync Battle at the 2016 Summit! This year, we’ll have a 70s-themed dance party and costume contest as well, so whip out your best leisure suit and platform heels.

If you are interested in participating in the Lip-Sync Battle, read the official rules. Prizes will be awarded to all participants, but contestant spots are limited. Those interested in participating in the competition must notify ATPE via email at meetings@atpe.orgno later than Friday, June 3, 2016.

]]>Thu, 26 May 2016 14:37:55 GMT1b0882d6-194c-42e7-9611-7490fb87b29f

Welcome to our new series, which features posts from staff members at the ATPE state office. This month's post features Chris Chodacki, membership program manager.

What drew you to working at ATPE?
Initially, nothing in particular. I had worked full time since I was 17 years old. My then-boyfriend and I were married soon after. Because we lived close to family, we raised our own family of four boys while continuing to work full time. While I loved taking care of my family, I was not a natural stay-at-home mom. When we moved to Texas, our youngest was just under a year old, and I stayed at home for the next three years. I went stir crazy! I was looking to get back into the workforce, but also for a challenge. I interviewed with ATPE and accepted the member services supervisor position. Once I started, it didn’t take me long to understand and believe in what ATPE stood for. I wanted to make a difference in the organization and for those we serve.

How long have you been working at ATPE? What was your first job here?
I began my career with ATPE in November of 2005 as member services supervisor.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned while working here?
In a perfect world, ATPE would be an unnecessary organization. But we don’t live in a perfect world, so we need ATPE to be the voice for those who care for and educate our children. When one of our members is in need of ATPE’s services, it can be a difficult and painful situation for them. It’s important for my team to treat our members with compassion and respect in their time of need.

What is your favorite part of working at ATPE?
ATPE has given me the opportunity to spend time mentoring Austin elementary students. Having a busy schedule makes it difficult to donate time to those in need, despite the desire to do so. ATPE not only encouraged me to get involved with the community, but gave me the time to do it. I’m grateful for that experience. It has even inspired me to continue donating my time to other worthy causes.

Share something fun about yourself that ATPE members might not know.
Within ATPE, I’m known for being apprehensive about public speaking. While I have done some public speaking on behalf of ATPE, it’s not something that I’m comfortable with. However, when I’m at the soccer field watching my youngest son work his magic, I turn into a sideline soccer coach mom, barking orders at the players. I am the loudest parent there, sometimes embarrassing my son and husband! They’ll get over it. I’m very competitive.

]]>Tue, 24 May 2016 14:14:08 GMTeadf621e-452d-402d-a8f3-9eafca46fcfd

ATPE’s new Communications Awards Award recognizes outstanding local unit communications (newsletters, emails, blogs, social media). Checks for $250 will be presented to winning local units at the 2016 ATPE Summit. Awards are given in three categories:

Communications by a local unit with 1-200 members

Communications by a local unit with 201-500 members

Communications by a local unit with 501+ members

Applications must be postmarked by June 1, 2016,if mailed, or received by midnight on the same day if faxed. Entries may also be emailed to comm@atpe.org.

Register to participate and leave a post under the “Sign Up Here!” forum. Be sure to check back regularly for new discussion questions.

]]>Tue, 17 May 2016 14:21:31 GMT5068838c-b6db-4d53-a7bf-4cfe5d57349a

ATPE has developed new resource pages dedicated to helping you better understand two big changes affecting public education. Visit our new resource pages and learn more about the new state-recommended evaluation system, the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS), and read about how Districts of Innovation may exempt themselves from state laws that affect your job and your students.]]>Thu, 12 May 2016 14:19:28 GMTb25c7bcc-4843-4a8a-8d90-553a7ae0becf

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s post is from Region 10 director Jackie Davis.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

I had been a member of ATPE in Irving prior to getting married and moving to Garland. I had attended conventions for a couple of years and was excited about ATPE. When I moved to Garland, I called the state office to find out who my campus rep was so that I could renew my membership in my new district, and they asked me if I would like to volunteer. I got involved in Garland ATPE as the president when we were struggling to get officers. Kitty Cardona, formerly at the state office in membership, was a tremendous help explaining my responsibilities and telling me what to do as we began to grow and build the Garland local unit. From there, I got involved in region activities and helped set up the region convention for a couple of years. As my learning progressed, I served on several region committees, and then I was asked to be the chairperson of the Region 10 ATPE Bylaws Committee. This gave me a chance to learn about the bylaws of both the region and the state. One of my most incredible experiences was being on state committees, and then being the chairperson of the state Services and Discounts Committee. Presenting our recommendations at a board meeting was my first look into that new world, and I loved it. It was such a fabulous day! In meeting other members and building a family of incredible leaders around the state, it was suggested that I run for region office. Now, as a part of the Board of Directors, I am continuing to learn about our spectacular organization.

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

I have learned so much about our amazing organization and how each and every person makes ATPE great! But my favorite thing about serving on the board is making the incredible connections to such unbelievable dedicated, professional people. I truly admire each and every one of the board members for their collaboration and discussions, but mostly for their FRIENDSHIP.

How has being on the board helped your region?

Our region is such a diverse group of people from some of the smallest local units in the state to the largest. Being on the board has allowed me to view the local units from all perspectives and recognize the needs at all levels as we discuss our plans and growth for the future. This has helped our region as we continue to grow and support each other in many ways.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

I would say learn all you can at your region and local unit meetings about the bylaws and serve on as many committees as you can. Being on the board is a splendid experience and an awesome responsibility. You need to read and study the board materials so that you are ready to share the information and recommendations from your region, but you also need to take into consideration that you are making decisions that will impact the entire 100,000 members statewide.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

Parasailing is something that I would like to do again and again because, just like being on the board, you get to see things from a different perspective, and things look quite different when you look at the big picture. My sister says that all that ballet and toe that I did as a child must have worked because I landed perfectly with toes pointed!

]]>Tue, 10 May 2016 14:18:59 GMT293d1a73-f2c9-4695-99fc-53211e0698f3

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) held a hearing on April 25 to take public testimony on the commissioner’s proposed rules for the implementation of House Bill (HB) 1842 dealing with Districts of Innovation (DOI). HB 1842 by House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock (R-Killeen) was passed by the legislature in 2015 and addressed several aspects of the state’s accountability system for schools. The provision allowing for innovation districts, which had been proposed through a stand-alone bill last session that did not pass, was added to HB 1842 as a late addition by a conference committee that was tasked with ironing out differences in House and Senate versions of the bill.

Additionally, ATPE filed a petition on Monday with the Texas Commissioner of Education legally challenging his recent adoption of rules creating a new state-recommended teacher appraisal system.

Read more about ATPE’s legal opposition to the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) here.

]]>Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:27:04 GMTf078f15f-ca51-40a8-a48d-db0591978a3c

Welcome to our new series, which features posts from staff members at the ATPE state office. First up is Jennifer Canaday, Governmental Relations director.

What drew you to working at ATPE?
Before I moved to Texas, I worked for the Louisiana Dental Association as Director of Communications and Public Affairs. When I was invited to interview with ATPE and started researching the association, I found many similarities between it and my former association, including the member-owned/member-governed philosophy. Working to advance public education also appealed to me. As a high school senior, I had served on Louisiana’s state board of education in a student role. Standardized testing was just starting to take off, and there were already concerns about its impact on students. I was able to be their voice in those policy discussions. Here I am, still fighting those battles!

How long have you been working at ATPE? What was your first job here?
I was hired in Nov. 2004 as a lobbyist. I later became senior lobbyist, then Governmental Relations manager, and now Governmental Relations director.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned while working here?
The value of listening. There’s always something new to learn or another perspective worth considering.

What is your favorite part of working at ATPE?
Without question, the people! My co-workers are phenomenal, and I always enjoy getting to visit with our members.

Share something fun about yourself that ATPE members might not know.
I was a contestant in the Miss USA pageant in 1993. Dick Clark was the host. It was before Donald Trump bought the company. Miss Michigan Kenya Moore won that year, and now she appears on The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

]]>Mon, 25 Apr 2016 15:06:22 GMT40edc98d-1ae9-4f12-a271-0ddbb6d8d2f7

If you live in the eastern half of our state, chances are you live in or near a district in which a primary runoff election is taking place on May 24. Voter turnout is typically very low in runoff elections, which means you can play a major role in these critical races by going to the polls.

If you aren’t yet registered to vote, there is still time! Register to vote by April 25, and you’ll be eligible to participate in the May runoffs.

To meet the candidates and learn whether you’ll have an opportunity to vote in a runoff, check out our blog post on TeachtheVote.org.

]]>Tue, 19 Apr 2016 14:23:55 GMTeba9d8ce-4f35-47eb-8211-ae35692c10db

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s post is from Region 6 director Judi Thomas.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

I became an ATPE member in 1989 and became the Willis local membership chairperson in 1991. I am not sure what year I was elected to my first region office, but I was nominated AND elected without even being at the meeting! I had agreed to serve, and my nominator took me seriously. I served as region secretary, vice president, and president before being elected director in 2012.

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

I have had the opportunity to meet other leaders from around Texas who enjoy working with children as much as I do. Texas is very diverse, and seeing and hearing how various issues are handled around our state helps me to see the bigger picture. I have also enjoyed getting to see the inner workings of ATPE and how our association is truly the VOICE of public education in the state of Texas, and even across our nation.

How has being on the board helped your region?

Being on the board has helped me be a better advocate for public education and has helped me become comfortable speaking to our local and region members about the issues facing our profession. Bringing in new members and retaining current members is critical to our success as an association. With more members, we have a bigger voice, and with that voice, we can change the perception of public education. As we advocate for public education, our influence spreads to the ears of those needing to hear how important our students are and what they need in order to succeed.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

Don’t be afraid. In order to grow as a leader, you must step out and take the opportunity when it presents itself. Be willing to work hard, brainstorm new ideas, share vital information with local and other region leaders, and keep the mission of ATPE—providing superior services to our members—at the forefront.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

My hubby and I have been married 40+ years and have four children and eight grandchildren. We enjoy camping and playing games such as corn bag toss, washers, Pictionary, Heads-up, and any other competitive board or card games. And I personally LOVE any and ALL word games, my favorite being WORDS with Friends! A bucket-list trip I would like to take is to travel to Canada and ride the Rocky Mountaineer Train (Gold Leaf Service) and then set sail up to Alaska and whale watch, all while enjoying the true beauty of God’s creation!

]]>Fri, 15 Apr 2016 14:06:44 GMT8b906ddd-230d-48a6-8c33-dec831aa032f

The 2016 ATPE Summit is being held July 20-22 in Austin at the Austin Convention Center. Registration for the summit opens Thursday, April 14.

According to ATPE bylaws, only local unit and region presidents can register and certify delegates for summit. If you are interested in attending, you need to contact your local unit or regional president to register. If you don’t know who your local unit or region president is, you can contact our volunteer program coordinator at (877) 777-2873 or volunteer@atpe.org.

Registration for the summit is $125. Included in this cost are the opening session, the House of Delegates meeting, ATPE volunteer training sessions, and the EPIC 70’s dance party and lip sync battle. Tickets to the annual awards dinner are $35 and are not included in the registration fee.

For more information on the 2016 ATPE Summit, including a tentative agenda, housing details, and answers to frequently asked questions, visit atpesummit.org.

]]>Tue, 12 Apr 2016 15:02:35 GMTd8ecda69-87f4-4026-b08e-8f9da67c934c

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s post is from Region 17 director Brenda Bryan.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

Someone asked me to be our campus rep, and from there I just kept volunteering. I was blessed along the way to work with other ATPE leaders who mentored me as I took on different leadership roles. That is an important piece of keeping new leaders at every level—making sure that there is someone there to nurture, support, answer questions, and give them a helping hand.

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

I am still finding my way as a “newbie” on the board, but the best part has to be the people. EVERYONE is committed to making the best decisions for the members of ATPE and ultimately the children of Texas. The board is composed of members from all sizes of districts, rural and urban, elementary to high school, all striving to do the best they can in making decisions and recommendations for the members of ATPE.

How has being on the board helped your region?

I follow a legacy of great board members from Region 17. They have always kept us well informed about the business of ATPE. I feel the best way that I can help my region is by continuing to keep them informed.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

Go for it, and don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

I am the great-granddaughter, granddaughter, daughter, sister, wife, and mom of farmers/ranchers. I grew up hoeing cotton, plowing, driving grain trucks, and “tromping” cotton. I have bottle-fed orphan calves and pigs and, yes, I name them and they become like pets (to the chagrin of my husband and son, but my daughter is on my side). But, alas, they grow up! I have a wonderful life—educating, feeding, and clothing the world.

You can save now and pay later through our convenient payment options. Sign up for payroll deduction, bank draft, or credit/debit card installments so that you don’t have to worry about mailing a check each month.

Visit atpe.org to sign up. First-time professional members will enjoy a generous discount on their membership when they sign up early, too.**

You can also call us at 1-800-777-2873 and speak to one of our membership specialists.

Once you’ve enrolled, spread the word about ATPE’s superior benefits to your coworkers. We welcome membership from all public school employees.

*Eligibility, terms, and conditions apply.

**First-time professional members are educators who have never been a professional member of ATPE.

]]>Tue, 05 Apr 2016 15:45:03 GMT759e33de-19f5-47db-8326-be00f02ee7df

The spring standing committee meetings are scheduled for April 22-23 at the Marriott North in Round Rock. The following standing committees will be meeting:

Bylaws

Legislative

Public Information

Resolutions

All other standing committees will be meeting in the fall.

Interested in joining a standing committee? Committees meet once a year, either in the spring or the fall. Other standing committees include Leadership Development, Membership, and Nominations/Elections. There are also special committees that meet during summit to review nominations for the Educator of the Year and Leader of the Year awards.

Any member can apply to serve on a committee. Simply fill out the application form. Applications are due by July 15, 2016. The ATPE state president will review the applications and submit his or her recommendations to the Board of Directors, which will confirm the recommendations at its August meeting.

]]>Tue, 29 Mar 2016 14:27:57 GMTd674bec3-fb3d-45e4-bee2-8f75884d6644

The Spring 2016 edition of our award-winning ATPE News is now available online. In this edition, we:

Discuss the effects of the current healthcare system on teachers and other school employees.

As always, you will also see what other ATPE local units have been up to and learn about ways the association is continuing its mission of making a difference in the lives Texas educators and students!

]]>Tue, 22 Mar 2016 14:57:02 GMTeef430f9-b5d5-4d97-a526-b8e60165f00e

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s post is from Region 16 director Dawn Riley.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

A teacher friend at the local level convinced me to serve as an officer for ATPE, and that year I was able to go to the ATPE convention and attend the House of Delegates for the first time. I was in awe, wonderstruck at the fact that I was a part of an organization that really did lobby on my behalf and on the behalf of the students that I teach. I was hooked from that moment on and knew that I wanted to be more involved. My leadership roles progressed naturally from the local, regional, and state levels.

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

I enjoy getting to hear the latest information from the lobby team and serving on the committees that we are appointed to, but I have learned so much from serving with my fellow board members from the other regions. Our state is so large and our regions are so diverse, yet when we meet together as a board, we focus on the common good of all the members of ATPE. We all have different ways of approaching problems, unique personalities, and assorted background agendas, yet when we gather for our board meetings, we use all of that for the collective good of our organization. I watched this transformation actually unfold this last year, and it was amazing to witness. It has been an honor to work with all of the other board members, officers, and staff members, and I treasure their friendships.

How has being on the board helped your region?

Hopefully, my regional officers feel that they have been kept up to date on what is happening at the state level and that we are getting that information out to our local officers. I have to also tip my hat to Chana Jones, our regional representative, who is doing a great job keeping everyone informed of what is going on in ATPE.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

You need to do it! It has been a very rewarding experience and I have certainly learned so much. Don’t be intimidated by your lack of background knowledge, you will catch on quickly.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

I am a licensed scuba diver, an avid country western dancer, and I enjoy cooking, traveling, reading, and hunting. I have recently started repainting and repairing furniture. I love searching for old discarded items at Goodwill or garage sales and refurbishing them into new treasures. I seem to always have paint in my hair or under my fingernails, and it has become quite a joke that if you stand still in my house, watch out—you might just get painted a different color.

]]>Fri, 18 Mar 2016 15:01:07 GMT929d2a9e-169d-4763-8c46-ae4d56b6e38c

Take and keep track of your continuing professional education hours all in one convenient place! Text: At ATPE we know that teachers have a lot on their plates. That’s why we offer the Professional Learning Portal (PLP) for our members. The PLP provides you with an easy way to take continuing professional education (CPE) hours and keep track of your totals.

The PLP is an online learning management system. Through it, you can:

Take courses for CPE credit,

Generate course completion certificates, and

Track your progress.

In addition to keeping track of the CPE hours you take through ATPE, the PLP allows you to enter and track CPE hours you complete through other sources.

Currently, the PLP has 35 online classes available to ATPE members. Two of the most recent courses are Papers, Papers, Papers! which provides instruction on classroom organization, and Teaching Children with Autism in a General Education Classroom.

To enroll in the PLP, please visit the Resources section of our website at atpe.org.

Have a skill or knowledge you’d like to share with other educators? Complete a course proposal form.

]]>Tue, 15 Mar 2016 14:13:19 GMT2d18ad06-9929-4287-ab5a-6e17ccfe8c40

Are you interested in running for elected state office? ATPE’s elected officers act on behalf of our more than 100,000 members by attending all Board of Directors meetings as well as regional meetings and other functions. Office up for election are president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

Nominees for each office will be announced during the House of Delegates meeting at the 2016 Summit, and each nominee will then have an opportunity to address the HOD. Voting will take place during the HOD meeting, and the results will be announced before later during the session.

Nomination forms are due in the ATPE state office by March 15, 2016. For more information and nomination forms, contactdhamad@atpe.orgor call (800)777-2873.

]]>Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:38:04 GMTc72352fa-ecc8-4780-b3da-14b2aeb85758

The Association of Texas Professional Educators is the largest educator association in Texas and the leading voice for Texas public educators and public schools. With that standing comes the responsibility to protect what the leaders and members have built over more than three decades of leadership in education.

In 2014, ATPE’s governing body, the House of Delegates, directed the ATPE Board of Directors to create and implement new charter standards to help the association maintain its high level of professionalism and financial transparency. There are three documents that now guide how local units and regions conduct ATPE business.

Charter Agreement

Sets out expectations for local unit and state office responsibilities

Sets out best practices for budgets, bank account reconciliation reports, and treasurer’s reports

Guarantees access to annual financial report for all ATPE members

Local units and regions are expected to follow the standards set out in these charter documents to ensure these ATPE resources support the organization’s mission, vision, and tenets while providing the high level of service, advocacy, and transparency that ATPE members have come to expect.

Together we can continue to be the leading voice of public education in Texas.

]]>Tue, 08 Mar 2016 15:07:05 GMT1ee78c67-edc0-418c-8df3-b5c3da587dca

The 2016 primary election votes have been tallied, and the results are in. As was expected, many races were decided in the primary. The Teachthevote.org blog has a comprehensive round up of the public education-related elections.]]>Thu, 03 Mar 2016 17:02:47 GMT626853fb-d48c-4c7b-aa65-37d4053a3e0f

Today is primary election day in Texas. Many of today’s Democratic and Republican primary ballots include candidates for state legislative offices as well as for the State Board of Education. Each party’s ballot also includes ballot propositions to influence the party’s platform.

Many races will be decided today, not on Election Day in November. This is because a particular party is dominant in the majority of districts in Texas, and some races only attract candidates from a single party. It is critical that we have a high voter turnout among education professionals in today’s primaries, where so many winners will be determined.

If you haven’t already voted during early voting, you need to get out there today! Most polls close at 7 p.m. tonight. Remember—you must vote today in your assigned precinct, and you must present a photo ID to vote. Learn more at TeachtheVote.org.

ATPE is a nonpartisan organization, and we provide candidate profiles on all candidates for the Texas legislature and SBOE on TeachtheVote.org. These profiles include responses to our candidate surveys, voting records, and contact information for campaigns, as well as endorsements by other organizations. If you’re still undecided, check out our website to learn where your candidates stand on public education issues.

Those who vote in the Republican primary will have the chance to decide on a ballot proposition to change the state party’s official platform in a way that affects ATPE and other professional organizations. Ballot proposition 3 supports an effort to take away Texas public employees’ right to have membership dues for professional organizations deducted automatically from their paychecks. For more information on the Republicans’ ballot measure 3, read TeachtheVote.org’s blog post explaining ATPE’s position.

Go vote! Encourage your friends, coworkers, and family members to do the same.

]]>Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:36:44 GMT19939bb6-e3f0-4a8c-a5bb-55b5bf3e5318

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s post is from Region 15 director Darlene Kelly.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

I joined ATPE about 20 years ago, when I was personally invited to a local unit meeting. I told them I wasn't a teacher, and they said, “Good because ATPE accepts all educators.” I attended my first convention in Houston and was hooked from then on. The House of Delegates blew me away. My good "sister" friend Cheryl Buchanan encouraged me to run for local office, and I loved it.

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

That I get to carry on the business for my region and be their voice.

How has being on the board helped your region?

I think it is great that we have a representative from each region on the board. We are so different, with big and small regions, and each person is able to share that at each BOD meeting.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

Just do it! It really is a great opportunity to move up the ATPE “ladder” and gives you a chance to see more in depth how the board, state officers, and state employees work together.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

Not sure anyone would call this fun but me, but not only am I involved in ATPE, I am involved throughout my community here in Ballinger. I am mayor pro-tem for the city of Ballinger, where I have served for 10 years. I am secretary/treasurer for the Ballinger Breakfast Lions club, and each year we help with a youth hunt at Lake Ivie. I am president of Region 15 TASBO Affiliate, president of Alpha Upsilon Phi, secretary for Carnegie Library of Ballinger board, and secretary for Ballinger Country Club. There is definitely no time to be bored. God is good.

]]>Fri, 26 Feb 2016 23:01:58 GMT4576b3a4-5d99-417e-977c-36d031b4bc01

ATPE’s CPE experts reviewed the SXSWedu schedule and identified more than 150 sessions and workshops that are eligible for CPE credit. These sessions and workshops will be tagged both on the online schedule and in the printed conference materials to help attendees identify eligible sessions. ATPE members who attend the CPE-eligible sessions will receive a code that they can use to log in to the ATPE professional learning portal and receive credit.

Want to know more about ATPE and CPE credits? We’ll have a staff member in attendance at SXSWedu. Come visit us outside Exhibit Hall 5, near registration.

For more information on eligible workshops and sessions, visit the official SXSW website. To learn more about ATPE’s Professional Learning Portal, visit atpe.org.

]]>Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:00:23 GMT8b139beb-763a-4a3d-bca3-18fa3a5e789d

As you plan your spring break travels, don’t forget to check out the hundreds of discounts that you are eligible for as an ATPE member. You can save money on items like rental cars, hotels, vacation packages, amusement parks, and cruises.

For more information, log in to your ATPE account and check out the Save with ATPE page.

]]>Tue, 23 Feb 2016 15:09:05 GMT1d4b0f98-f870-4d49-aa2b-06f39586099d

The Educator of the Year awards recognize ATPE members who demonstrate exceptional and innovative qualities in their classrooms or work environments. Winners receive a $5,000 check from ATPE. The awards recognize excellence in five categories:

Administrator of the Year

Associate of the Year

Elementary Teacher of the Year

Secondary Teacher of the Year

Special Services Educator of the Year

Nominations for these awards were due on February 1, 2016, and the nominees have been notified by the award committee.

To be considered, nominees must now complete an application that includes answering questions about their educational philosophy, education trends, communication and leadership, and personal experience related to their area. Answers are limited to one 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper, front and back.

Applications must be submitted no later than March 4, 2016.

These applications will be reviewed by the award committee, which will select up to three finalists in each category. Finalists will be notified in May so that they can make plans to attend the 2016 APTE Summit in Austin where they will go through in-person interviews with the award committee. Winners will be announced at the 2016 ATPE Summit.

For more information about the 2016 ATPE Educator of the Year awards, visit ATPE.org.

]]>Thu, 18 Feb 2016 15:08:15 GMTec6947fa-672f-4027-9dd1-dd7ebe8cf08d

Early voting for the March 1 primary begins today and runs through Feb. 26. We urge all educators to search for their legislative and State Board of Education candidates using our 2016 Races page on TeachtheVote.org, to find out where the candidates stand on education issues. Teach the Vote’s candidate profiles include survey responses, incumbents’ voting records, endorsements from other groups, contact links, and more.

Many races will be decided in March – not in November! That’s why we need high turnout among the public education community during the primaries. Learn more about races that will be decided in March on our blog. Get out and vote!

]]>Tue, 16 Feb 2016 15:25:52 GMTe99e602d-1058-4334-8348-d2404e84cc24

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s post is from Region 3 director Andy Erdelt.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

I got married and my wife was a member, so I joined ATPE and became a local officer. I have been one for about 20 years.

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

I enjoy learning about what goes on with the board, all the ins and outs of ATPE and the staff. I also like meeting leaders from all over our great state.

How has being on the board helped your region?

It’s helped my region because I’ve been able to get reports from the BOD meetings out to local units. That keeps them informed so that they know what is going on at ATPE.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

Stay up to date on what is going on. It is important to share your ideas and concerns. Become a local officer and take part in ATPE. Every decision we make has to be about what is good for the entire organization.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

My favorite hobby is rock and gem hunting. I also have been on city council for about 10 years and sing with a barbershop group.

]]>Thu, 11 Feb 2016 15:31:15 GMT3e598e9e-0579-4179-908b-68e38ccfb477

If you would like to take the ultimate leadership challenge and you believe that you possess the qualifications, support, and commitment to serve as an ATPE elected state officer, request the nomination form and 2016 Election Rules by emailing dhamad@atpe.org.

State officer nominations must be received in the ATPE state office no later than March 15, 2016.

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s post is from Region 13 director Jayne Serna.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

I began my leadership experience in ATPE as the local unit president. The current president noticed that I had checked that I was willing to volunteer, so she emailed me to tell me that all I would have to do is hand out applications at the beginning of the year and mail them in. Needless to say, I discovered that there were other possibilities!

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

It has been great fun to get to know leaders from other region and the state office better and see how the work of volunteers and staff at the local, region, and state levels work together as a team to help the organization grow!

How has being on the board helped your region?

Being on the board has helped me keep the region informed and focused on growth. I think we are also getting to know each other better and finding new ways to support each other professionally and personally!

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

Know that your decisions help shape the future of the organization, so stay informed, ask questions, and think of the whole group while you consider how to best represent your region.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

I am an amateur musician and run a soccer league that my husband and I started. It started with 36 players the first season and currently serves more than 300 players.

]]>Thu, 28 Jan 2016 22:48:20 GMT0fd962ba-7a83-4b7f-932e-2950291e3af3

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s post is from Region 11 director Karen Hames.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

I became a campus rep because another teacher asked for help delivering information to my school. I didn’t even know her personally at the time, but since then we have become great friends. You just never know who will take a job until you ask :) I became a local officer because I began attending local meetings, and no one stepped up when they needed someone. I thought, “How much work can it be?” Silly me! I became a Region 11 officer when our secretary moved out of state. By this time I thought, “Why not me?"

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

I’ve only attended one meeting thus far, but it was amazing how quickly I bonded with the other members of the board. What a great group of people! I look forward to learning and growing through their wisdom and experience.

How has being on the board helped your region?

Already I have been able to help make some decisions as well as give some advice based on my newfound knowledge. I also feel better equipped to begin helping to revive and assist some local units that might need a boost of energy.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

If you have the passion for ATPE, go for it. Talk to current and previous board members to learn as much as you can about the responsibilities so you’ll be better prepared once you get elected and begin serving.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

I own and ride a Harley and have for many years. I bought my FXR new in 1984 and have ridden it all over the United States. For those who ride, I don’t trailer. Riding has given me a wonderful perspective of this great country of ours that I couldn’t have gotten any other way.

]]>Wed, 06 Jan 2016 19:15:16 GMTbe6c9ac8-1aa7-4dfe-b5d2-ab818939d8fd

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s blog post is from Region 12 Director Jason Forbis.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

I got involved because a coworker asked me to go to the spring convention one year, and I went. After seeing all the workings of ATPE, I knew I wanted to be an active member. I was asked the next year to be a campus rep, and then it went from there. I started at the local level and have worked my way up the chain.

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

I have many. One of my favorite parts of being on the BOD is the friendships I have made. I have had the opportunity to meet so many people from the great state of Texas who are as passionate about public education as I am. These relationships will be forever and I am thankful for each of them. I have also loved being able to see the inner workings of ATPE and to help shape the future of the association.

How has being on the board helped your region?

Being on the board has helped me be a better advocate for public education and has helped me become comfortable recruiting with passion. Since membership is the backbone of our association, we need to recruit. With more members, we have a bigger voice, and with that voice, we can change the perception of public education. This change will only better the kids, the teachers, and the entire state of Texas.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

Do it! If you want to develop yourself as a leader, this is a place for you. You must be willing to work, prepare, and answer the call for service when needed. Being a board member is a reward and an honor that I do not take lightly.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

I am a huge sports fanatic! I love to attend and watch just about any sporting event around. An ideal sports weekend for me would be watching my son play junior varsity football on Thursday night, cheering on the varsity football team and watching my son march in the high school band on Friday night, sitting down to cheer on my Baylor Bears on Saturday and my Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Needless to say, I think sports are AWESOME!!!!

]]>Tue, 08 Dec 2015 15:21:36 GMTd6a78d8d-7488-4ab9-b7bc-0830c400d52e

When I was asked to describe the early days of ATPE, visions of frantic activity immediately appeared in my mind’s eye; I recalled every sort of communication except texts and emails; and I distinctly remember the visceral feeling of wondering if we knew what we were doing. This was a historical moment in the history of teacher associations in Texas, and we could not let the opportunity pass us by. We were always working and hoping for the best outcome for the teachers and the newly-minted association. We pledged that service to our members would guide all actions and deliberations.

We strived to have strategic planning in place at the beginning of the school year by having the newly-elected officers’ retreat right after the Spring Convention. As hard as we tried, sometimes things went awry, as former executive director Mike Morrow would tell you. He still holds it over my head that his president went to sleep right in the middle of a late Friday night session. In my defense, it was after teaching all day before flying to Austin. And in the early days, we didn’t always know what to plan FOR.

There are four major early challenges that come to mind quickly. The first centered mainly on efforts to combine two strong-minded individual teacher associations—the Association of Texas Educators (ATE) and Texas Professional Educators (TPE). Both were extremely good organizations with good leaders and similar principles, but nonetheless, it took some time and skill to mesh them into a cohesive team with one identity. We had to become one family.

Recruiting was the second item on our plate. In order to add to the 18,768 members we started with in 1980, the first issue of ATPE News carried the announcement of ATPE’s creation. It told of the organizing principles, what was offered to members for a greatly reduced membership fee, including the enhanced liability insurance. We informally used the slogan “cheppa dues, betta liability”!! The magazine also carried the logo, created by Judy Coyle and Charles Pickitt, that remained our icon until just recently. The logo consisted of the state of Texas in white, overlaid with the acronym ATPE and surrounded by a red circle that encloses the state. It is circled by 18 stars, one for each of ATPE’s founding members.

I’m not sure about the rest of these people, but I am just about as proud of being on this list as I am of anything else, even of being on the list of past presidents.

The third item that occupied a huge chunk of time, thought, and money was the effort to achieve a measure of influence, not only with teachers but also with legislators and the Capitol press corps. We used every contact, made every office visit, called every office, and worked our staff to the bone. By the ’83 legislative session, our staff numbered about 10, including major players Jack Martin, Louise Nelson, Annell Todd McCorkle, Kent King, Doug Rogers, and Steve Graham. We did get some recognition with H. Ross Perot, who had been appointed by Gov. Mark White as the chairperson of the Select Committee on Education. Our staff and I met with him as he studied the reform recommendations that eventually became House Bill 72.

The ultimate “problem” we dealt with in the early years was our quick growth. But oh how thankful we were for that problem. We outgrew two office spaces and moved into a third one by the time of my presidency. The new space allowed for an in-house printing press and a new computer system. National education newspapers were recognizing our ATPE News. We were moving on up! The membership that began with nearly 19,000 now stood at 37,000.

Not exactly the same list you would get from a recent past president if asked what their term has been like, huh? But I can assure you there are similarities. We’re still working to keep factions together; recruit through our publications; establish and maintain relationships with legislators and media; and manage, maintain, and serve the growth of our organization.

Reminds me of a time I spoke to textbook publishers during a Proclamation Hearing for textbook adoption. I was last on the list of speakers, it had been a long day, and I needed to get their attention.

I recited a story from Elizabeth Taylor’s seventh marriage. On the eve of their wedding night, Richard Burton said to her, “Elizabeth, I know what I am here for, I just don’t know if I can make it interesting!”

And that, my friends, is what every president has to keep to do. Each term, the tasks seem to be the same—the challenge is to make it interesting!

It’s a lesson in fatherhood. Every day, a number of dedicated men forgo their usual daily responsibilities and go back to school. These men—fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father figures—volunteer on their child’s campus as part of the WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) initiative. WATCH D.O.G.S., created by the National Center for Fathering, is an international educational initiative promoting fathers’ involvement in schools. The program has two primary goals: to provide positive male role models for students and to provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying. Currently, there are more than 4,000 active WATCH D.O.G.S. schools in 46 states, along with schools in Canada, China, Mexico, Barbados, and Puerto Rico. In Texas alone, there are more than 1,200 WATCH D.O.G.S. schools. And what’s happening in these schools is a testament to the power of parental involvement.

After attending an orientation or launch party, volunteers, called WatchDOGS, work with a “Top Dog,” who partners with a school administrator to coordinate scheduling. During the volunteer day, these men, easily identifiable by their WATCH D.O.G.S. t-shirts and “dog tags,” help with a variety of tasks, including unloading and loading buses and vehicles, monitoring the lunchroom, working in classrooms, assisting small groups of students, and patrolling school entrances and hallways. Volunteers even take the time to play with students during recess. ATPE News visited with WatchDOGS from across Texas and learned that the opportunity to be a positive male role model and help ensure the safety of their children’s school were only the first of many rewards the program offers.

Steven Hurst is the principal at Lone Star Elementary, where Ameet Sandhu volunteers. (See the Winter 2015 issue of ATPE News for Ameet’s interview.) Thoughtful planning has contributed to the WATCH D.O.G.S. program’s success. His school works hard to ensure volunteers’ schedules are full of worthwhile experiences. “We schedule out a good portion of their day,” he said. “We make sure they get to go to their kid’s classroom. They’re always going to get to have lunch with their child, they’re always going to be at their kid’s recess time, but then we also have them volunteer in another classroom. We ask them to walk around and check and secure doors. They help in many different ways, and we make sure they didn’t feel like they wasted their time.”

Hurst credits the WATCH D.O.G.S. program with getting fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father figures into the school. “Because of this program, so many more dads have a presence at our school, and they are more comfortable with being here,” he said. Every father who has volunteered at Lone Star Elementary has wanted to come back and volunteer again. For administrators like Hurst, this level of parent engagement is irreplaceable. “It helps build relationships,” he said. “It’s just been a blessing for us. Our kids light up because those volunteers are their heroes. When the dads come to campus, the kids surround them.”

Read more about the WATCH D.O.G.S. program, including interviews with volunteers, in the Winter 2015 issue of ATPE News.

]]>Fri, 20 Nov 2015 16:34:11 GMT129e1302-ed19-4105-b22e-2478d58ccc21

Long ago, when I was a really young teacher still trying to just figure out how to be a good teacher, I became aware of the efforts of the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) to push teachers into a relationship and mandatory membership with the National Education Association (NEA). Early in my career as a teacher, I had joined TSTA, as had most teachers, and even attended several conventions in Dallas. When I was a member, TSTA served the educators of Texas and provided support. But somewhere in the mid-seventies, they lost their way and took a very different direction. I was a bit of a rebel and felt this mandatory membership in a national group did not serve me as an educator. So I voted no. Twice I voted no, and without regard to the membership’s votes, TSTA merged with NEA.

In my local area, a new group, the Association of Texas Educators (ATE), was created. I joined and soon became the Richardson ATE local membership representative. A great lady, Louise Nelson, took me under her wing and began to help and guide me as the membership person. The office for ATE was in Richardson, so I was at the office often with membership stuff. Somewhere after a year or two, there was a need for someone to run for ATE state vice president. I was asked to run so there would be more than one candidate. I said yes, knowing I probably had no chance of winning. Well, I didn’t win, but enjoyed the convention. A few years later, I was asked to run again for vice president of ATE. We were discussing merging with Texas Professional Educators (TPE), and there was a lot going on at the convention and in Texas. Again, I said yes and ran. This time, I won by two votes and became the last vice president of ATE. The next thing I knew, we were in merger talks with TPE and I was on the consolidation board.

As part of the merger, the consolidation board voted on new officers for ATPE. Amazingly, I was elected by the board to serve as the new vice president. Wow, how far I had come in such a very short time. This was 1980, and at that time, I was only 31 years old and had taught for about eight years. Later, we had the first ATPE convention in Austin, and I was elected vice president by the members. That is how I became the only person elected twice for vice president, serving for just over one and one half years in this office. Of course, Alafair Hammett was elected president twice and also served for one and one half years.

The thing I remember most about these times and the people I had the opportunity to work with was the strength of their leadership and ongoing mentorship for those of us who were just getting started. People like Alafair, Floyd Trimble, Judy Coyle, Mike Morrow, Fred Weisner, Bill Crockett, and so many others continually gave support and assistance to everyone. They not only established a great association but also set the roles for those who followed. Much of whatever success that occurred when I was president must be credited to each of these individuals, who provided the model for me. Even when I became a principal, what I had learned from these leaders served me so, so very well, so many times. This mentorship is still alive and well in ATPE, and it is the reason for ATPE’s continued success and amazing growth. Professionalism at its best.

The winners of ATPE’s classroom makeover contest have been announced! Congratulations to Brooke Raney of Goose Creek ISD, Alexandra Blalock of Dickinson ISD, and Kaci Byrom of La Vernia ISD! Each received a $500 classroom makeover.

ATPE student teacher members who upgraded to first-time professional members by Sept. 30, 2015, were automatically eligible to win ATPE’s classroom makeover contest.

Photo: Kaci Byrom of LaVernia ISD won a $500 classroom makeover from ATPE.

]]>Tue, 17 Nov 2015 15:25:27 GMTd3e375ef-b105-47eb-982b-a9e177d5376e

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s blog post is from Region 2 Director Cesarea Germain.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

I was asked to attend a meeting, I liked what I saw, and felt I could bring something good to the table.

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

Meeting new people from other local units, the camaraderie, and being able to share my experiences with others.

How has being on the board helped your region?

It has helped our region become more active. Our region meetings now consist of local units from across the region and not just one. It is exciting to see that more and more local units are wanting to become more active. You might say I am changing the world around me.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

Just do it! You will learn a lot, have the opportunity help your fellow members, and meet a whole new group of people with your same interests.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

When it comes to fun, I enjoy a wide variety of activities. I sew, dance, ride a motorcycle, have my own trike, play flute in church, and enjoy spending time with family and friends.

]]>Thu, 12 Nov 2015 21:15:20 GMTe2a888bc-0e68-4bef-9c1b-9bc81fef61cf

Traveling for Thanksgiving? Don’t forget about these amazing deals from ATPE’s partners.

ATPE members can save on car rentals through Alamo®, Avis®, Budget, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, and National Car Rental.

The annual SXSWedu Conference & Festival is scheduled for March 7-10 in Austin, Texas. This event celebrates innovation in learning by hosting a diverse community of enthusiastic educators. And now, ATPE is pleased to announce that it has partnered with SXSWedu to certify selected sessions for continuing professional education (CPE) credits. Now you can enjoy their famous interactive workshops, hands-on learning experiences, film screenings, and more while earning valuable CPE.

How does it work? ATPE’s CPE specialists will review SXSWedu’s scheduled workshops and select those with content that best matches CPE requirements for educators. Those workshops will then be identified in the SXSWedu program for easy reference. You will receive a secret code to confirm your attendance at the end of each qualifying session. Then, you’ll just log on to ATPE’s Professional Learning Portal to receive credit. Viola!

Election Day is today! Texans have the chance to weigh in on changes to the state’s constitution. There are seven proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot covering issues ranging from property taxes to transportation to hunting and fishing. If you have not yet voted, please visit your assigned polling location to cast your vote. Don't forget to take your photo ID. Most polls are open today until 7 p.m. For additional information, visitVoteTexas.gov.

For more about how ATPE supports public education in the legislature, visit TeachtheVote.org.

]]>Tue, 03 Nov 2015 17:06:19 GMT57c03a15-73c9-4f7b-a347-1005b894ed32

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s blog post is from Region 4 Director Ron Fitzwater.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

I got involved as a leader because I get such personal satisfaction from helping our members. I know I’m doing something good.

Ten years ago, when my wife and I relocated to Texas from Missouri, MSTA’s executive director, Kent King, told me to look for ATPE when I got here. I found the ATPE table at our NTO, and asked those volunteers, “Are you a union?” When they told me, “no,” I joined on the spot. I have loved the people and the organization ever since.

What is your favorite part about serving on the board?

I enjoy everything about serving on the board—even the parts that might seem mundane, such as discussions about the finances. I’ve been saying for several years that we needed to make sure our budget was balanced, and this past year, the board and staff worked together and made that happen.

The whole process takes some time to truly understand, but I try to be a watchdog for our members, and I try to learn. What I truly enjoy most is getting to know more members of the ATPE family, which changes every year. People transition in and out, and our family grows.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

I would recommend that anyone who’s interested in serving on the board step out and volunteer on the local and region level. It gives you a good perspective of knowing who your region really is. As a board member, you’re literally coming to the table and representing your region, but along the way, you’re to represent all of ATPE.

I admit it took a little time for me to step back and focus on what’s best for all of ATPE. I had very strong opinions, but it’s not just about me, or my own region. Others make that shift easily, but it’s something I had to learn to accept. As a board, we may do things I don’t agree with, but I always know those decision are what’s best for the organization overall.

As a board, we are professionals, and we represent ATPE members at the local, region, and state level. When we do that, we’re no longer divided into regional silos. We become one. I enjoy serving, but I also believe that being a board member is a privilege. I’m one of 25 people who have the privilege (and awesome responsibility) of representing an organization of more than 100,000 members.

How has your being on the board helped your region?

I’ve had past experience in small and large, rural and urban, districts, and I bring that experience to the board role. Like other board members before me, I believe that I’ve been able to bring a clear representation of ideas, priorities, and concerns from Region 4 to the state level. I’m there to share my region’s perspectives with my fellow board members. But the communications go both ways. I’m also there to communicate the big picture perspectives to the officers, volunteers, and members in my region.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

While in high school, I was highly involved in our Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter and even then did not mind serving in a leadership role. My senior year, I was elected State FFA Reporter of Ohio. Yes, I’m a Buckeye by birth and a Texan at heart. But my agricultural roots have never gone away, as I love to garden and get my hands in the soil.

]]>Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:53:02 GMT3c4cc517-3a71-4d27-b610-3fdfde2da413

First-time professional members can join ATPE for the low rate of $80—but only for a few more days! Don’t miss your chance to become a member of the largest educators’ group in Texas. Here are five top reasons more than 100,000 Texas educators join ATPE every year:

Superior protection benefits

Discount programs that save you the cost of your dues (and then some!)

Join now to get all the benefits of an ATPE membership for this amazingly low rate. The deal ends October 31, 2015!

]]>Tue, 27 Oct 2015 14:29:27 GMT38133070-deb1-438a-b527-8e8b1358f5d1

Gary Godsey thanks ATPE members for everything they do and discusses how members can come together to make a difference in the lives of Texas schoolchildren.

“We are in existence to serve you, our members. Our board, made up of 25 phenomenal individuals who were elected by you across the state of Texas, put in hundreds of hours a year to ensure one thing: that you value your ATPE membership.”

]]>Thu, 22 Oct 2015 13:53:33 GMT4956bb8e-7f61-45ed-b3c5-fb0f682dc8a6DonorsChoose.org, ATPE members are getting the classroom supplies and materials they need for students.]]>

DonorsChoose.org is a crowdfunding site that provides classroom supplies and other learning needs by connecting educators with everyday people who can help. ATPE is partnering with DonorsChoose.org to make a very special opportunity available exclusively to ATPE members! When teachers identify themselves as ATPE members on DonorsChoose.org (through either the project title or description), ATPE will match 50% of the project cost according to the criteria.* We know you dream about giving your students all the best tools to succeed. ATPE wants to help bring those resources into the classroom.

It’s easy to take advantage of this amazing opportunity!

Submit your project online atDonorsChoose.org. The website will walk you through the process of selecting materials for your students and provide tips for inspiring donors to give.

Identify yourself as an ATPE member. Please use the words “ATPE member” in the project title or description in order to link your project with ATPE.

*Projects that qualify for this 50% match will appear on DonorsChoose.org as half off. The ATPE match is applied to projects if donors fund the first 50% before the project expires. For example, a qualifying project of $500 will be listed as needing only $250 in donations, thanks to the offer. Once $250 is given by donors, it “unlocks” the ATPE offer, the funding is applied, and the project is fully funded. The total amount, including fees, cannot exceed $1,000. Please read the DonorsChoose.org User Agreement and Rules & Responsibilities at DonorsChoose.org.

]]>Tue, 20 Oct 2015 13:55:11 GMT88eb702c-64cc-4119-9deb-d3a64b83033c

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s blog post is from Region 9 Director Dale Lovett.

I’ve served as president plus other offices of two local units where I’ve taught over the past 20+ years, and I’ve had other roles on the region, including serving on state ATPE committees on behalf of Region 9. Why get involved? Why serve on the state board? As with most of the leadership assignments I’ve had, I am involved because someone asked. Someone approached me and said, “We need this done, and you’d be great at it.” How do we recruit and include others in leadership? We ask!

The role as a member of the ATPE Board of Directors is very new and exciting to me, as I am just becoming aware of the scope of responsibilities. The thing to which I most look forward is working alongside others from a diverse and great state of educators. We have educators from large schools and small schools, city schools and rural schools, high schools and kindergartens, and all parts of Texas—north, south, east, west, central, and panhandle! As we collaborate on issues facing Texas educators, we learn so much about the needs and strengths of others. We also count our many blessings as we share the victories in a profession rich in rewards and successes—our students. These are the passions of teachers across the state that are woven into the fabric of ATPE.

Because we all tend to view everything from our perspective, our classroom, our area, it is important to bring to our region and local unit the views and ideas of our peers elsewhere. We can learn so much by sharing experiences from one region to another. Someone’s idea in another school is an answer to a need in our school. We have much to share and learn around the table with our ATPE family. I hope something I share in my role as an ATPE board member helps others around the state.

When I was growing up in my hometown, where I have returned to teach, my mentors told me, “Today you are soaking up the things we have to teach you and give to you. Later, you will need to squeeze that out so others may soak up what you have to teach and give.” I can give today because others gave before me. My richest blessing as a tenured teacher is seeing my students, as adults, giving back. On it goes.

]]>Thu, 15 Oct 2015 14:55:27 GMT2f771502-7b85-48ff-bd28-dd88742a168f

I recently traveled home to visit my parents. The five-hour drive from the Dallas/Fort Worth area to Canyon, Texas (in the Panhandle), is one of my favorites. It is a time for me to reflect and catch up on my thoughts, as I am forced to disconnect from social media. This 355-mile drive takes me through the many small towns that are sprinkled along 287.

Texas is 268,820 square miles, with teachers, support staff, community members, and, most importantly, students from all different types of backgrounds. Although Texas is large, its educators have the same dream—to offer their students the best opportunities to grow into contributing members of society.

When I moved to Dallas, walking into a new classroom in one of the city’s 20 elementary schools was a huge culture shock. My hometown had one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. In Canyon, it took me 20 minutes to get to school because I lived out in the country off a gravel road. My current commute also takes me 20 minutes, but I have to travel from one end of town to my school at the other end of town.

Although there are 355 miles between my current and former homes, educators throughout the state of Texas have the same goals and ambitions as I do. Many of these educators are part of the member-owned and member-governed Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE).

ATPE offers:

Online learning through webinars (where you can receive continuing professional education [CPE] credits!)

Online book studies

Ways to connect with other educators through events such as ATPE Connect, region meetings, region conventions, and the ATPE Summit

Online articles through the ATPE blog

Great articles through their magazine, ATPE News

With Texas being so big, I am thankful that I am part of an organization that supports educators no matter where they are on their journey in education. My membership in ATPE offers me a plethora of resources at my fingertips—and a common bond with my fellow educators across the state, regardless of whether we are separated by thousands of miles or a couple of doors.

Andrea Keller is a prolific blogger who writes multiple blogs, including busybeeideas.blogspot.com. She was named one of 20 educators to watch by the National School Board Association; has been named Teacher of the Year for TCEA and ATPE; and has presented workshops at SXSWedu, TCEA, and various other conferences. She is a frequent contributor to the ATPE Blog and ATPE News magazine.

Views and opinions expressed in guest posts are those of the guest blogger and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ATPE.

]]>Tue, 13 Oct 2015 14:17:02 GMT4ee4ed12-79ab-4095-a0df-7fb648225eba

Taking part in ATPE’s STAR (Success Through ATPE Recruitment) Membership Challenge is easy! Volunteer leaders who recruit 10 or more new 2015-16 professional, first-time professional, or associate members by Oct. 31, 2015, are eligible to enter. The volunteer leader who recruits the most new members by Oct. 31 will be named the ATPE SuperSTAR and will receive $1,000. The next runner-up will receive $500, and the next three runners-up will receive $250 each. You’re not a volunteer leader? Then make today the day you get started as a campus representative, local unit officer, or ATPE ambassador! Simply contact ATPE’s volunteer program coordinator at volunteer@atpe.org to learn about opportunities in your district. Find more information at www.atpe.org/star.

As an added bonus, if you recruit a new member between July 1 and Oct. 31, you will be eligible to receive a $10 Amazon or $10 Starbucks gift card. (Limit one gift card per recruiter.) For guidelines or to submit an official entry form, go to www.atpe.org/each-one-reach-one.

]]>Thu, 08 Oct 2015 14:23:23 GMT57a33fbd-45ac-4f84-b8b7-a99b1f5f9401

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s blog post is from Region 14 Director Tonja Gray.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

I checked the little box on the application saying I would be willing to be a volunteer. I completely forgotten about checking the little box until one day I received a call from ATPE asking if I would like to start a local unit in my school district. I had no idea what that meant, but I agreed to meet. And the rest is history. That was approximately 20 years ago.

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

I absolutely love doing the business of ATPE. I enjoy learning about what goes on in schools around the state, good and bad. I also love meeting other leaders and sharing ideas.

How has being on the board helped your region?

My region leaders love getting reports from the BOD meetings. I try very hard to keep them informed so that they know what is going on in Austin and around the state. I believe keeping the leaders in the know helps them feel that we truly are an inclusive organization that is member owned and governed.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

It is very important to be actively engaged. You must stay up on what is going on. Be sure to always be prepared for the meetings. At the meetings, it is very important to share your ideas and concerns. The best ideas and solutions only come when everything has been fully discussed. You need to represent your region; however, ultimately, every decision has to be about what is best for the entire organization. You must be able to step back and look at issues from another’s point of view. At the end of the day, remember we are all on the same team.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

My favorite hobby is dancing, but I didn’t take my first dance class until I was 25. I teach lyrical, ballet, and liturgical dance three nights a week at Turning Pointe Dance Academy. I had the privilege to travel with a pre-professional dance group for 10 years and three of those were as the director. I have also taught theatre. When I am not at the dance studio, I can often be found at Abilene Community Theatre building sets, working front of house, or possibly on stage as an actor.

]]>Tue, 06 Oct 2015 13:55:23 GMT642bd72b-c842-4e58-9633-b16d5f18e742

“Miss Alkire, are you going to be here next year?”

I've heard this many times. It’s words like these coming from my students that reinforce why I am a teacher. You can hear it in their voice. Sometimes students, kids, just want someone to be their advocate, so I answer with a big smile and in the most reassuring tone I can muster without breaking into tears, "I will definitely be here next year, so you had better be in my class!"

“Ms. Alkire, why did you decide to become an art teacher?”

This is another question that I hear often in my room, especially when we begin discussing careers in art. So of course I have to tell THE story. It’s the ultimate origin story! The best beginning to the best career! Cue flashback and dramatic soundtrack.

I was a sophomore in high school and just had a terrible experience in an Art II Drawing class. I’ve never been a disrespectful student, but the way the teacher treated me and disrespected my work was unbearable. So I did what any self-respecting good student would do ... I walked out. I was so angry that I walked out the door and over to my Intro to Art instructor from the previous year. She talked me down and then suggested that I transfer to ceramics with Mrs. Sherman.

Mrs. Sherman changed my life. I went from a quiet and shy girl who was afraid to express her thoughts and emotions to a true artist. I had never felt so safe and comfortable in any classroom. She encouraged me, made me laugh, and listened to what I had to say. She made such an impact on me as a person that I spent the next three years in ceramics with her, and in my senior year I worked the system so that I could take an independent study class with her because Ceramics IV wouldn’t work with my schedule. She treated her students with respect and let us express ourselves creatively through clay. Her class was the only one I would go above and beyond for as a student.

Having a collective of creative people around me has contributed greatly to my success as an art teacher. Being a part of ATPE, the Association of Texas Professional Educators, has opened doors for me to have many more professional connections as well. I have met so many creative people through their organization who have inspired me to go above and beyond in the classroom so that I can better service my students and my artistic community at school.

Mrs. Sherman is the reason I changed my mind about studying paleontology and instead enrolled in an art education program. She is the type of teacher that I am still striving to become, even now after six full years of teaching. I desire for my classroom to be a place of refuge, a place where students can dream, a place where they can be themselves and express unsaid words with paint and canvas. I don’t think Mrs. Sherman knows how much her lessons and kindness really meant to me.

I've just begun my seventh year of teaching, and I can’t believe how time has flown. I see a few of my previous students here and there and am so proud that many are continuing in the arts programs at their high school and how excited they are to tell me they are still drawing and still dreaming.

Views and opinions expressed in guest posts are those of the guest blogger and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ATPE.

]]>Fri, 02 Oct 2015 14:18:39 GMT08d0686a-149e-4d68-b488-805f50c34f4a

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) and State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) are accepting public comments through Oct. 5 on a proposed rule to weaken the standards for becoming a certified superintendent in Texas. As we reported on our blog at TeachtheVote.org, ATPE opposes the rule change that would eliminate requirements for superintendent candidates to have at least two years of teaching experience, a master’s degree, and a principal’s certificate. The SBEC will make a final decision on the rule next month.

Renew your membership no later than Sept. 30, 2015, in order to ensure continuous eligibility for professional liability insurance benefits. If renewing online, you must renew no later than Sept. 29, 2015. If you do not renew before then, your eligibility for the employment rights protection will be delayed for 30 days after your membership date.

Please contact the ATPE membership department at 800-777-2873 if you have any questions.

]]>Mon, 28 Sep 2015 14:43:47 GMT4caa847a-33d4-40f5-b992-e69d5effaa10

ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s post is from Region 1 Director Michael Sweet.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

Simply, I was just asked. My friend MaElena Ingram asked me at a workshop who my teacher organization was and told me about ATPE. She signed me up and asked me if I would like to get more involved, and I was invited to a region meeting.

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

My favorite part is the chance I get to meet with the leaders from the other regions and to talk to them and share ideas. Oh, and Squirrel! That was is for you, Caesar and Jackie!

How has being on the board helped your region?

It has helped us spread the message even more and has moved our region into the spotlight.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

Just do it!

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

I belong to an MC and like to ride my Harley after a bad day and/or on the weekends!

]]>Wed, 23 Sep 2015 21:31:46 GMT82307b09-2de2-4b51-9ad3-b16fc5a8cc57

Could you use $500 to give your new classroom a makeover?

ATPE has good news! If you were a student teacher member of ATPE in 2014-15, you could win a $500 gift card to revamp your classroom! We know you could use an extra boost as you begin your new teaching career. That's why three ATPE first-time professional members will get an extra $500 to decorate their very first classroom!

Are you running low on markers? Have you lost your last pair of scissors? Stock up now and take advantage of the savings your ATPE membership affords you!

The selection of products just grew because Office Depot and OfficeMax are now one company! ATPE members can save up to 80% off more than 93,000 products. Shop online or in stores. You can even enjoy FREE next-day delivery on online orders greater than $50.

And through our online shopping mall, Azigo, members can earn cash back by shopping at their favorite stores, including Target, Kohl’s, and more!

Log in to your ATPE account and visit the services and discounts page at atpe.org for more information.

]]>Thu, 17 Sep 2015 14:18:01 GMTb4a20075-c906-4274-a5ef-a4000e67e411

The first week of school I reminded myself to think about my word for the year, “champion,” as I worked with new teachers. I wanted to be a champion for them and help them realize how important they are to our school. I wanted to be a champion for the returning teachers to help them see their value to the students and the classroom. I also wanted to be a champion for myself and do things that were going to make me perform better and feel better.

While I am working on being a champion for those people around me, I know that I am a part of an association that is a champion for Texas educators.

Fourteen years ago, I began my teaching career in a small school district. I joined the ATPE because you are supposed to make sure that you are covered by a professional association… right? I made sure that I signed up every year knowing that if I was ever faced with a need to be covered legally, I would be. As I have grown in my profession, I have learned that ATPE is so much more than legal coverage.

Here are a few of my favorite ways ATPE is a champion for Texas educators:

By always having Texas educators in mind. ATPE advocates for Texas education! Check out the ATPE Advocacy page.

By keeping us informed. Check out teachthevote.org. It’s a great tool for researching the education stances of candidates for the State Board of Education and the Texas legislature. (Even better? There are no endorsements--just information!)

By having a huge amount of resources available. This includes online trainings and book studies.

By having amazing benefits and discounts for just being a member. (Did I mention there are matching funds from DonorsChoose.org available, too???)

ATPE encompasses the word “champion” in so many ways, but it also consists of champions. ATPE is a member-owned and member-governed association that is full of passionate educators.

When people hear the word “champion,” many automatically think of sports or winning a competition. But I prefer this definition: a person who fights for or defends any person or cause.

My word for this year is “champion.” I am going to be a champion for myself and others and know that ATPE is my champion everywhere else!

Are you a member of ATPE? Do you have a power word each year?

Andrea Keller is a prolific blogger who writes multiple blogs, including http://busybeeideas.blogspot.com/. She was named one of 20 educators to watch by the National School Board Association; has been named Teacher of the Year for TCEA and ATPE; and has presented workshops at SXSWedu, TCEA, and various other conferences. She is a frequent contributor to the ATPE Blog and ATPE News magazine.

Views and opinions expressed in guest posts are those of the guest blogger and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ATPE.

]]>Tue, 15 Sep 2015 14:52:58 GMT1a65444f-f775-41a0-a58a-90308cfd05dc

Register now for the Texas ASCD 2015 Annual Conference, October 25-27, at the Austin Renaissance Hotel in Austin, Texas. Keynotes include National Teacher of the Year Shanna Peeples; culture expert Dr. Anthony Muhammad; Raymond J. McNulty, Dean of the School of Education at Southern New Hampshire University; and Discovery Education’s Scott Kinney.

In addition, if you attend the Texas ASCD conference, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in workshops with the keynotes, network with educators of all levels at more than 80 Innovative Highlight sessions, visit the exhibit hall, and even have a chance to win prizes.

Register now. ATPE members receive a 10% discount—just enter code ATPE15 when you sign up

]]>Thu, 10 Sep 2015 15:17:46 GMTa4b1cfa4-60fa-4aa6-a0fc-330459679339
I love, I love, I love my calendar girl
Yeah, sweet calendar girl
I love, I love, I love my calendar girl
Each and every day of the year

- Lyrics from Calendar Girl

Teacher and personal organizer Allison Venuto shares her tips for using a personal calendar.

]]>

It would be far more convenient for someone to steal my wallet than to steal my calendar. Not that I’m advocating that anyone steal anything from me (or anyone else). I just know how heavily I rely on my calendar to help me meet my obligations. Then I can fully relax knowing everything is complete.

With the fall comes school, tutoring, athletic schedules, and meetings, among a host of other commitments. The crush of these duties can seem overwhelming and have people running from one place to the other. Here are some calendaring tips that can help relieve the pressure:

Paper versus electronic: For about 20 years, I used a paper planner (writing in pencil in case something changed). Then. My husband asked me to move to an electronic calendar. What? He wanted to cut down on the “Are you free on Monday?” conversations. It was hard to change, but the system is getting easier to use. There is a video at ducksinarowdallas.com that shares more information. There are pluses and minuses to both; the key is to find the one system that you will work. That’s right. One calendar.

Everything is added: Everything. I mean everything is added to one calendar. Birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, work meetings, potluck dinners, games, bill-pay, chores, and everything else you can think of. As you create events to add to the calendar, note details such as uniform color, address, and agenda items that are necessary for that event.

Color-coding: You can use colors in many ways: family members, work, volunteering, relaxing, unconfirmed events, and cancelled items. I use different colors for work items, my husband’s commitments, and relaxing activities. If an item is cancelled, then I turn it grey in case I need to look back at the details later if we reschedule.

Consistently adding information to your calendar will allow you to look in one place for your schedule instead of multiple places. This relieves the stress of running around last minute because your system is working for you. I love, I love, I love my calendar, girl. You will too!

Allison Venuto, who is never without her planner, owns Ducks in a Row Personal Organizing, wherein she works with clients on space and scholastic organizing. Please contact her with questions at allison@ducksinarowdallas.com.

Views and opinions expressed in guest posts are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ATPE.

The Fall edition of our award-winning magazine is online now. In this issue, we show how ATPE members make a difference in students’ lives every day and relay the news from the 2015 ATPE Summit, which occurred in July. In his article, Gary Godsey debunks common myths about public education—and shares the good news about Texas public schools. Psychologist Adam Saenz explains how to keep stress from getting the best of you, and member Andrea Keller reveals her top time-management tips. You'll also find tons of photos and stories that show ATPE members and local units making a positive difference in the lives of Texas students!]]>Fri, 04 Sep 2015 15:26:07 GMTab1e748a-13a7-4a80-9114-7be29c106270

Now, maybe you’re like me and you joined an organization as a brand-new baby teacher and then you paid into it each year without really knowing WHY. Well, luckily, I have some amazing friends who are very passionate about ATPE, and they were constantly sharing information about all the services and discounts that come with being a member of ATPE. So I wanted to share just a few things about ATPE that I didn’t really know before my friends swooped in and saved me! (Ok, that’s a little dramatic, but seriously, I didn’t realize you were supposed to be involved with your organization—I was just a baby teacher!)

ATPE totally has your back. If you are a Texas teacher, they are fighting for you. Even if you are not part of ATPE (yet), the lobbyists in Austin are fighting for what’s right for educators (and, let’s be honest, it ultimately impacts our students...). That includes standardized testing, teacher evaluations, our retirement...important stuff!

Legal protection—Now I know when you read those words you’re like, “I don’t need legal protection.” Ok, sure and great. BUT what if you did or what if you had questions about if something was legal (like new “initiatives”). You can totally call and just talk to someone about your concerns and your options. But if you need representation, they can help you with that too as long as you’re a member. Win-win.

Views and opinions expressed in guest posts are those of the guest blogger and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ATPE. Eligibility, terms, and conditions apply. Visit www.atpe.org/Protection for more information. The staff attorney services and insured benefits are provided through separate programs.

]]>Mon, 31 Aug 2015 21:03:09 GMTe7c39c6d-1ee5-4b96-9b6e-0f5783071e5c

Here is my list of the top 5 most important things that happen behind the scenes for new Texas teachers as the school year begins!

5. Bloodborne Pathogens

If you are a teacher of any sort, you’ve probably heard this term more than you care to admit. Basically, we review a PowerPoint that talks about proper procedures to follow in case a student is injured and there is an open wound. It’s actually really helpful and very informative but can seem repetitive as we talk about it EVERY YEAR. I don’t take it for granted, though. I had a student accidentally cut themselves with an X-Acto knife, and because I knew how to handle the situation and had a plan of action, there was no panic and everything turned out fine. Panic in your classroom is the WORST, so avoid it at all costs.

4. Acceptable Use

This is really important for teachers and students alike! Learning how to properly use images and information from the internet, or materials created by other teachers, is a MUST. How can we hold our students accountable for plagiarism if we aren’t aware of laws that protect our students’ privacy or prevent copyright infringement in our profession? As an art teacher, this is especially significant in this day in age where artists sometimes “borrow” ideas or completely steal other artists’ work. Did anyone hear about the recent scandal over someone re-selling Instagram images? This actually becomes a great way to teach students about who owns a photograph or a work of art, and copyright laws. They need to understand the difference between being inspired by someone’s work and just plain stealing.

3. Social Networking Awareness

It’s sad to say, but many people, including educators, have a hard time drawing the line with personal social media and social media used for educational purposes. I never allow students to “friend” me on personal social media, and I make sure I use the highest privacy settings. Also, just because you have your privacy settings set doesn’t mean friends of friends can’t see what you post, so I make it a habit to never write negative comments or discuss issues concerning school on those sites. If I have a concern, I go directly to the source and have a conversation to find a resolution. I do have an Instagram account for my classroom as a way to interact with students and have them participate in challenges, but I never follow students’ personal accounts. This is just a way to keep my dealings with students on social media professional and educational.

2. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

This ties in with #3, Social Networking Awareness. Basically, FERPA is a law that governs what student information the school can post, including photos in the yearbook or posts on social media during special events or programs, like an orchestra concert or basketball game. It’s also EXTREMELY important for my art students. If they don’t have the appropriate signed release forms on file, then I am unable to display their artwork in any art shows in the district. So, even if their piece is top notch, it will never be seen by anyone else (including on the designated Instagram account). I have actually hunted students down and highlighted where their parents need to sign. What can I say? I am serious about my students receiving recognition for their work! Be sure you know your district’s policies and understand what forms are required where you teach.

And my #1 behind the scenes task for the new school year is ..... *DRUMROLL*

1. TEACHER LIABILITY INSURANCE!

When you walk into a classroom, you MUST have liability insurance! No one ever told me about this in college, and it wasn’t until the week before my first school year that another teacher mentioned it to me. You need to understand your rights as a teacher. You need liability protection that will cover you in a wide variety of situations. If you aren’t a member of an organization that offers liability insurance benefits, and you teach in Texas, let me invite you to join ATPE. They offer access to the best liability coverage I’ve seen! Their website has a whole list of benefits and other helpful information. Check it out here. Not only do they protect my rights but they also advocate for Texas public education at the Capitol. That, in my opinion, is pretty amazing! While I haven’t had to use their services yet, I have a friend who was an ATPE member and who was being bullied by an administrator without reason. She called ATPE and an attorney responded right away to help resolve the situation. THEY KNOW EDUCATION LAW, and they really care about the well-being of educators. I love knowing I have their support.

I hope this helped you out, especially if you are a first-year teacher. If you have any comments, please feel free to leave a note below!

Did I miss anything? If you had a top 5 list of things that go on behind the scenes as you start a new school year, what would they be?

Views and opinions expressed in guest posts are those of the guest blogger and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ATPE. The above post does not constitute legal advice and may not be relied upon in legal situations. Consult an attorney as appropriate. Eligibility, terms, and conditions apply. Visit ATPE for more information. The staff attorney services and insured benefits are provided through separate programs.

]]>Thu, 27 Aug 2015 13:37:49 GMTf7e6e559-218e-4983-8533-96dc5734f246

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a Native Texan, born and raised in the greater Dallas area. I love being a Texan, and I love being from the greater Dallas area—Region 10!

For anyone outside of Texas, Dallas evokes images of a particular family on a particular ranch, and telling someone that you’re from Dallas is followed with the question, “Have you ever been to Southfork?” My answer is always yes! In fact, my mom actually worked at Southfork as a tour guide in the 80s. The next question is “What’s it like to be from Dallas?” While the television drama is a fun part of my personal history, the oil families and vast homesteads portrayed in the show are hardly the greater Dallas area I call home.

Excellent shopping is certainly one of the things we are known for in Region 10, but it is not all we have to offer! In my experience, the best thing about this area is the diverse culture that stretches from Grayson County to Waxahachie! There are big towns, little towns, and cities of varied history and experiences. There is literally something for every area of interest in Region 10. Here are just a few of my favorites.

The Dallas Arts District—Dallas has some of the best art museums in the country. From the Nasher Sculpture Center to the Dallas Museum of Art and the Crow Collection of Asian Art, there is an award-winning museum experience for any taste. Don’t forget to include a stop of the Dallas Arboretum for some of the most exquisite floral and landscape displays ever created!

Lake Texoma—It is not all concrete and high rises in Region 10! We have many naturally beautiful outdoor spaces. Lake Texoma is one of Region 10’s greatest examples of pure Texas beauty. Folks can enjoy any number of awesome outdoor adventures, such as boating, fishing, camping, equestrian trails, and hiking trails, just to name a few.

Lone Star Park—This is one of the most action-packed entertainment venues in Region 10! Lone Star Park hosts two live horse racing seasons—Spring Thoroughbred racing season and the Fall Meeting of Champions. Whether you are a novice spectator or a dedicated fan, this is one equestrian racing experience that delivers excitement with every visit.

Mesquite Championship Rodeo—This is a family-friendly, pure Texas experience! The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association delivers an action-packed, adrenaline-filled, competitive rodeo with each and every event. Rodeo clowns, horses, and bulls provide a safe but intimate evening of fun like no other. No wonder the Mesquite Championship Rodeo can brag about hosting notable guests like Prince Rainier of Monaco, Former President Ronald Reagan, and Former President George W. Bush!

State Fair of Texas—Since 1886, Dallas has hosted the Texas State Fair, a unique, one-of-a-kind, can’t-miss experience! With quality entertainment, football, thrill rides, the midway, and auto shows and shopping, there is plenty to keep visitors busy for hours. The real treats can be found with the food vendors. Anything you have ever imagined can be found here—and it is probably deep fried! Visitors will also want to stop by and see the livestock and animal shows. Don’t forget to visit your 55-foot host, Big Tex! He has been greeting guests since 1952.

Reliving history and heritage—We have a huge mix of fun ways to experience the historical sites and the different heritages across the area. From the Sixth Floor Museum to Deep Ellum, there is no shortage of things to experience! Some of my personal favorites are the Heritage Farmstead Museum in Plano and Dallas Heritage Village. Region 10 is an amazing place to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of Texas! Regardless of your interests, Region 10 has something to offer. It leaves visitors wanting to come back time and time again.

Becki Girouard is ATPE’s regional representative for Region 10. Becki is a proud Texas native and Texas State University alumna.

]]>Mon, 24 Aug 2015 14:11:39 GMTe309cf23-ca25-436b-955b-62a4406bd9eb

I imagine most of you have eaten at a Chick-fil-A restaurant a couple of times in your life. If you are like me, it’s way more than “a couple of times,” and you have trouble counting how many different locations you have visited. For those who can relate, isn’t their outreach just a little “different” from other fast-food franchises? To me, the wait staff is warmer, friendlier, more sincere, and more service-oriented across the board. I can even tell their positive lilt in the voices coming out of the drive-through speaker!

It’s not like the other restaurants are unfriendly. In fact, I can find certain individuals like at the “golden arches” who meet or even exceed the standards at Chick-fil-A. So what’s the deal? Well, it just has to be more effective leadership based on a better philosophy, right? I’m sure when interviewing potential hires, the managers look for exactly the same qualities mentioned above, and once hired, employees are constantly coached to make their outreach something people notice as “special.”

My point is, the leadership, philosophy, and therefore the members of ATPE are also unique, and to me—without question—set apart from the union organizations. Just like I can tell the voice in the drive-through speaker sounds different, so do I think I could tell sight unseen a conversation between ATPE members compared to union members. What are the keys? First, less complaining about what can’t change and more vision about what can. Second, the feeling that this job is way more than a paycheck, and there’s a much deeper commitment than the three reasons many people teach—June, July, and August. And, third, more of a “servant’s heart”—a love for students and a spiritual calling to help them become fine adults. Can you find these attributes among union members? Of course! Often—and widespread! But take it from me folks, ATPE is just “different.” If you don’t agree, find out for yourself!

Okay, it’s now 9 a.m. Time to go and get that #1 breakfast combo, a chicken biscuit with potato rounds and a half-n-half sweet/unsweet iced tea. Wait! It’s not Sunday, is it? (And as we all know, that issue could start a whole ‘nother conversation. )

Dr. Kenneth Poppe is a science/math teacher at Carter-Riverside High School in Fort Worth, Texas, and this year's ATPE Secondary Educator of the Year. He received his doctorate from the University of North Texas in 1986 and has worked as a professor on university teacher education staffs and a field rep for alternative schools at the state department of education. But his ultimate love is the classroom, where he started his career in Dallas in 1971.

Views and opinions expressed in guest posts are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ATPE.

Log on to your ATPE account or call us at (800) 777-ATPE (2873) to check your membership status.

Important dates to remember:

September 30 – Renew your membership no later than September 30, 2015, in order to ensure continuous eligibility for professional liability insurance benefits. If renewing online, you must renew no later than September 29, 2015. If you do not renew before then, your eligibility for the employment rights protection will be delayed for 30 days after your membership date.

October 31 – Deadline for first-time professional educators to take advantage of the discounted rate of $80.

January 31, 2016 – Professional and associate membership closes for 2015-16.

Please contact the ATPE membership department at 800-777-2873 if you have any questions.

Tennis shoes, flip-flops, cowboy boots, hiking boots and high heels—that’s what you will need if you plan a trip through the regions I serve! You will find many areas with a small town feel but big city appeal. Touching Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, Regions 5, 6, 7, 8, and 12 offer character and diversity. Museums, art, shopping, nature, state parks, festivals, wildlife, history, and beauty—these areas of Texas have it all!

Regions 6 and 12 fall into the area of Texas known as the Prairies and Lakes Region. Residents and visitors can enjoy water activities at one of the area’s many lakes or visit one of the amazing university campuses like Baylor or Texas A&M. Growing up, my family had a lake house at Lake Tawakoni, so I have very happy memories of boating, fishing, and skiing on this lake just east of the Dallas Metroplex. Many Native American tribes settled in several areas of the Prairies and Lakes Region for thousands of years; in fact, Waco is named after the Waco Indians. Dead armadillos are often seen on the side of the road in this region! The Prairies and Lakes region also boasts the “birthplace of Texas”—Washington-on- the-Brazos, where the constitution of the new Republic of Texas was adopted in 1836 and which served as the seat of the Republic of Texas’s government. This region also boasts the home of the world’s largest “flea market,” in Canton, which started more than 150 years ago.

Blazing a path to the south and eastern border of Texas is the Gulf Coast region, home to some of the best beaches in America, well known for its wildlife and natural beauty, and an outstanding destination for fishing enthusiasts. But did you know that this region is home to the largest alligator population in Texas? Port Arthur, known as a “birdwatchers delight,” is the gateway from Cajun country to Southeast Texas, and natives look forward to the annual Mardi Gras celebrations! The region holds some fascinating historical treasures. For instance, in 1901, near Beaumont, drillers were amazed when an oil gusher rose to a height of more than 150 feet—more oil than had ever been seen anywhere in the world! As a result, within three months, Beaumont’s population tripled!

The Piney Woods region, my home, is very scenic. Tyler is known as the Rose Capital of America, and visitors flock to my hometown in the spring to enjoy the azaleas. I love the back country, quiet, scenic roads with rolling hills and green countryside. Bordering Louisiana is Caddo Lake State Park, which houses the largest naturally formed lake in Texas and is also home to the world’s largest cypress forest. The Caddo Indians settled in this area, and their ancient burial mounds are still visible. Scattered throughout 12 counties and covering 634,912 federally owned acres, the Angelina, Sabine, Davy Crockett, and Sam Houston National Forests comprise the “national forests” of Texas in the Piney Woods. One of Texas’s oldest cities is Nacogdoches, settled by Native Americans, Spaniards, and Frenchmen, and where the first newspaper in Texas was published! This region offers some of the best down-home cooking and even championship golf!

Thank you for taking this virtual tour with me. If you don’t live here, on behalf of all of us who do, come and visit soon, now, you hear?

Mary Jo Burgess is ATPE’s regional representative for Regions 5, 6, 7, 8, and 12. Before beginning her career at ATPE, Mary Jo was the Texas PTA director of member services.

]]>Wed, 12 Aug 2015 15:51:18 GMTa61f5e04-d1c7-4781-94f5-005a33a95d97

At ATPE, one of our primary goals is to unite our more than 100,000 members and serve as a powerful voice for public education. Every day we working with legislators at the state capitol and with media outlets statewide, sharing valuable insight from you—our state's educators—about issues that directly affect you and your students every day.

Most often, we field questions about school finance, standardized testing, vouchers, or social security. What we don't see enough of in the media headlines is the good news.

You've worked hard to develop your expertise, and you are investing your skills in Texas’s 5.2 million schoolchildren. Thank you!

When I look at our state's teachers, principals, and paras, I see the very definition of the word “professional.” No other profession has had to endure the scrutiny that Texas’s teachers and administrators have endured for the past several years. You've met these ever-evolving challenges by staying focused on the end game—a quality education for Texas’s kids.

And it's paying off. Because of your professionalism, and that of your colleagues, 26 Texas schools have been nominated for the 2015 national blue ribbon honors. And in 2014, the high school graduation rate increased to 88.3 percent, outpacing the national rate of 81 percent.

Far too often we hear politicians and skeptics say that Texas schools are failing. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Here are some highlights from the past school year:

High school graduation hit record highs for the sixth consecutive year. The 88% rate in Texas outpaced the national rate of 81%

When compared to their peer groups for graduation in other states, Asian students in Texas rank #1 in the nation, Hispanic students rank #2, African American students tie for #1, white students are #1, and economically disadvantaged students in Texas are #1.

You’ve each taught, supported, encouraged, and cheered for that special student, regardless of their ethnic or religious background, their economic status, or their learning attitudes. I’m willing to bet every single one of you, whether or not you’re a classroom teacher, volunteer, administrator, or staff person has a story to share. There’s someone you’ve influenced, who’s overcome the odds and has succeeded in life. Take a moment and think about that person. You made their journey possible, and that’s what makes the sacrifices worth it.
]]>Fri, 07 Aug 2015 19:13:04 GMT05153f3b-899a-4922-922a-8dc633a08adb

This year, I’m excited to step into a new role as president of ATPE. Every new generation begins the same way—new ideas, new opportunities, and new challenges. I hope to offer a new generation of ideas, but I’m also grateful for the guidance of those who have come before me.

Today, we have more generations working and learning on our campuses than ever before, with the most diverse population of educators that has existed throughout the history of our state and nation. With this diversity characterizing our classrooms, ATPE must be able to reach all of our members and potential members in ways that are meaningful, engaging, and useful.

After speaking with members at summit about the year ahead, I developed four ambitious goals for this year:

Membership: Reach out to new members—those who are new to the profession or just new to ATPE. We need to increase our numbers to guarantee that the high-quality programs and services that you care about most will continue.

Cory Colby is the 2015-16 president of ATPE. Colby is an AP and dual credit government and US history teacher at Willis ISD who has been an educator and an ATPE member for eight years.

]]>Wed, 05 Aug 2015 15:47:42 GMT17aef643-52c1-4146-b3a1-c39c71974f3f

The town was paper, but the memories were not.
--John Green’s Paper Towns

I’ve had a love affair with paper for as long as I can remember. Continuing to write my fourth-grade pen pal in Australia until high school, starting a fad in middle school where we crumpled paper until it became as soft as tissue, and finishing thank-you notes within a week of my honeymoon are but a few examples.

In one of my high school English classes, I received a paper that was ripped to shreds by my teacher’s red pen. I mean ripped. To shreds. Ripped to the point that my then-EXTREMELY shy self (I once cried when I had to speak in front of the class) asked for a conference with the teacher. The written and verbal feedback I received helped me eventually earn much higher grades on subsequent assignments.

That experience prods me to offer prompt teacher feedback because I know the difference it made in my life. As much as I would rather organize map pencils or prepare for the next day, I attempt to grade my assignments within 24 to 48 hours because I know the benefit my students will receive. I don’t always accomplish this, but it is my goal.

Here are some tips to help you move through grading:

Schedule calendar around deadlines: To the extent possible, try to schedule student work days, reading days, and/or guest speakers on days you are collecting major assignments. That way you can use some class time to work on grading.

Check progress on assignments: Break down assignments (e.g., thesis, opening paragraph, etc.) and set different deadlines for each piece. Having already looked at pieces of the assignment may allow you to move more quickly.

Grade Five, Move, Grade Five, Move: Use this tip with especially lengthy assignments. I grade five, complete a short classroom task, and grade another five. Breaking up the grading gives me more stamina to continue through the pile.

Hopefully, these tips will help you feel free of ungraded papers and offer students opportunities to gain insights about their work (and not lining birdcages with the papers!).

Allison Venuto, who liked Paper Towns more than she thought she would, has been teaching in the Dallas area for 10 years and owns Ducks in a Row Personal Organizing. Please contact her with questions at allison@ducksinarowdallas.com.

Views and opinions expressed in guest posts are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ATPE.

]]>Tue, 04 Aug 2015 13:45:17 GMTebc7f94a-5f1d-4bb1-ac0b-decad2ffbd89

On July 9, ATPE members gathered at summit to elect a new slate of officers for the coming year.

These officers (shown above) start their terms on August 1. Your 2015-16 state officers are:

President Cory Colby, from Region 6, is an AP and dual credit government and US history teacher at Willis ISD. Colby, who has served as ATPE’s state vice president, secretary, and treasurer, has been an educator and an ATPE member for eight years.

Vice President Julleen Bottoms, from Region 12, is a 23-year education veteran with 20 years under her belt as an ATPE member. Bottoms, who previously served as ATPE’s state secretary and treasurer, is a K-5 technology applications teacher and campus technical specialist at Corsicana ISD.

Secretary Carl Garner, from Region 10, is an ARD Chair and MTI/inclusion teacher at Mesquite High School with 15 years in education and as an ATPE member. Garner served as ATPE’s state treasurer in 2014-15.

Treasurer Byron “Skip” Hildebrand, from Region 20, is a retired math teacher with 31 years of experience in education and 21 years as an ATPE member.

Past President Richard Wiggins, from Region 20, is a special education department chair in Boerne ISD who has been an educator and an ATPE member for 13 years.

From left to right in photo: Richard Wiggins, Byron Hildebrand, Carl Garner, Julleen Bottoms, and Cory Colby.

]]>Thu, 30 Jul 2015 14:11:04 GMTdb4f4eb9-411e-4300-91cc-b341375669f3

While traveling, I usually engage in conversation with someone who asks me where in Texas I am from. I don’t think I have a Texas accent, but since this has happened more than once, I guess I do. It is nothing unusual for someone to say “yeehaw” or ask where my boots and hat are. I usually don’t travel with my boots and hat, but you better believe they are in my closet at home.

Serving as the ATPE regional representative for members in Regions 9 and 11 keeps me in my comfort zone. You see, in these two regions you will find famous sporting events, rodeos, museums, and many other attractions. Right up my alley!

If you haven’t visited the Fort Worth Stockyards, you are missing out on a piece of history that cannot be replicated anywhere else on earth. From cattle drives to cattle barons, you will find it all here. To find out more, read North of the River: A Brief History of North Fort Worth by J’Nell Pate, whose book centers around livestock, tourism, and family life. The Stockyards is also home to the world’s largest honky tonk, Billy Bob’s Texas, where you can take in a great performance or try to ride the mechanical bull and then walk on over for a steak at Cattlemen’s Steak House.

Each January you will find people of all ages at the Will Rogers Coliseum, home of the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth. The grand champion steer was auctioned off for a record-setting $240,000 during the 2015 event! The steer was then donated to the Fort Worth Zoo, another one of the area’s big attractions. Across the street from the Will Rogers Coliseum are the Cowgirl Museum, the Kimbell Art Museum, and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Don’t bypass Casa Mañana, where you can take in a great performance. Downtown Fort Worth houses Bass Hall and Sundance Square. If you are lucky, you might catch ESPN Sports when they are broadcasting from the square. And of course, the yearly performance of the Nutcracker Suite at Bass Hall is a must.

A few miles northeast you will find the town of Grapevine, which houses the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center and the Great Wolf Lodge. Both are vacation destination spots. Whether you enjoy concerts and the yearly winter wonderland at the Gaylord or the indoor water park at Great Wolf, both are worth the visit. In September, the Grapevine Wine Festival is a big draw. With its arts and crafts and area-produced beverages, people travel from all over to attend. What a day!

If you like huge crowds and lots of noise, then Texas Motor Speedway is a must. People travel from all over the world on race days. What a great experience it is to see the stadium filled and hear the roar of the cars.

In neighboring Arlington, you will find Globe Life Park, home to the Texas Rangers baseball team, and across the street the massive AT&T Stadium (or “Jerry World” to those of us who live here), home to the Dallas Cowboys. Down the street is the famous Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor water park. Enjoy a day of roller coasters and rides at Six Flags and then relax in the lazy river at Hurricane Harbor.

Our regions are home to many universities and colleges. We currently have ATPE chapters on two of these campuses: Tarleton State University in Stephenville and Texas Woman’s University in Denton.

Just when you think you have seen or done it all, you can travel to Wichita Falls and take part in the Hotter’N Hell Hundred endurance bike race, which takes place at the end of August each year. I was in town during this event last year, and let me tell you, these riders are serious about their bikes. They even sleep with them--I witnessed riders taking their bikes into the hotel I was staying in. Travel on to Graham, where you can get a taste of living on a ranch by spending time at the Wildcatter Ranch. They also have a great restaurant on site.

There is no shortage of activities and sites in our regions. The challenge comes in finding time to visit them all.

In Regions 9 and 11, culture and cowtown go hand and hand. If you haven’t visited this great part of the state, I hope you will put it at the top of your to-do list. Just don’t forget your boots and hat!

Diane Pokluda is ATPE’s representative for regions 9 and 11. Before she started working at ATPE, Diane spent 34 years as a classroom teacher.

]]>Mon, 27 Jul 2015 18:15:07 GMTc3de8f0d-936e-4a7b-9f3e-311c2b8ac04d

The SXSWedu® Conference & Festival is happening March 7-10, 2016, in Austin! The event fosters innovation in learning by hosting a diverse and energetic community of stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds in education. There will be engaging sessions, interactive workshops, hands-on learning experiences, and a host of networking opportunities. Start making plans to attend and find out more!

YOU can be a Speaker at SXSWedu!

Have a great idea for a panel? SXSWedu lets you be involved through an entry process called PanelPicker. It is a two-step, crowd-sourced platform that enables the community to have a voice in the programming selected for SXSWedu 2016. You are given the opportunity to submit ideas and vote on the collected submissions.

South Texas is a vast area of land south of San Antonio that extends from Laredo to Corpus and all the way south to the US border with Mexico. With a population of more than three million, it is rich in history and its culture is highly influenced by its ties with Mexico. I have been a South Texan for more than 40 years and can’t imagine living anywhere else. I live in the southernmost area of Texas known as the Rio Grande Valley. Also known as the RGV or “El Valle,” oddly enough, The Valley is not a valley at all but is more of a floodplain.

South Texas is certainly influenced by Mexican heritage. From Tejano music to Tex-Mex cuisine, it’s easy to recognize the influences from south of the border. One thing I enjoy most about South Texas is its small town feel where people have a sense of pride in their community. So if you’re looking to escape the fast-paced city life, South Texas is definitely the place for you.

South Texas is known for a lot of things, such as King Ranch and its many state parks, but the coastal area beaches are one thing that cannot be overlooked. If it’s fun in the sun you’re looking for, you have definitely come to the right place. South Texas has an array of choices for beachgoers. North Beach, Mustang Island, South Padre Island, and the Padre Island National Seashore are all popular destinations throughout the year. Located near Corpus Christi, the Padre Island National Seashore is the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world and is even a nesting place for Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. South Padre Island, near Brownsville, is a popular attraction for locals throughout the summer and is invaded by 50,000 college spring breakers annually in March. A short 2½-mile drive across the Queen Isabella Causeway is all it takes to visit the historic Port Isabel lighthouse. This lighthouse, more than 100 years old, served as a supply station during the Mexican-American War.

If there is one thing that sets this area apart from all others, it has to be the wonderful people. South Texans are friendly, caring, and respectful individuals who put family first. As I have traveled throughout Regions 1 and 2 this year, the people have been so welcoming and helpful. Many are old friends who I have known for several years, and some are new friends who I have made this year. They are passionate about education and passionate about ATPE as well. Old or new, the people are what make this job fun and such a rewarding experience.

Though the people of South Texas definitely are top-notch, not too far behind is the phenomenal food that can only be found here. In the coastal areas of South Texas, freshly caught shrimp, oysters, or snapper are served up daily at places like Blackbeards’ and Louie’s Backyard at South Padre Island or Pier 99 in Corpus Christi. Pier 99 not only offers some of the finest seafood in town but also has a great view of the SS Lexington. If you are looking for authentic Mexican-style cuisine, there is no better place than the RGV. Fresh, homemade tortillas, refried beans, and rice made to perfection—talk about comfort food! One of my personal favorites is panchos Mazatlan from El Rancho Grande in Pharr. Whatever you choose, you definitely can’t go wrong with the authentic Mexican food that is only available in South Texas.

South Texans also love to have a good time. Whether it’s the RGV Livestock Show, Buc Days, Border Fest, Fiesta de la Flor, or the Hidalgo Festival of Lights, we love to celebrate. Held in Corpus Christi, Fiesta de la Flor is a celebration of the life of the “Queen of Tejano,” Selena Quintanilla-Perez. A native of Corpus Christi, her impact on Tejano music and her fans reached far beyond South Texas. The Hidalgo Festival of Lights, the largest lighting display in Texas, stretches over three miles and features more than three million lights. In fact, many schools leave their Christmas trees up year-round!

So if you are ever in South Texas area, make sure to take in the historical sites, enjoy the best seafood and authentic Mexican food available, and participate in the local festivities. But most importantly, leave the big city life behind and be prepared to meet the most incredible people around.

Roger Gutierrez is ATPE’s representative for Regions 1 and 2. Before he started working at ATPE, Roger was an elementary teacher and the Region 1 ATPE director.

]]>Tue, 14 Jul 2015 13:59:53 GMT5ab558ba-4556-4e09-8fc3-25f9c9fcfcf4

The winners of the ATPE Campus Representative Recruitment Incentive have been announced! Thank you to all the members who helped recruit campus reps and a very big "Kudos!" to the following top recruiters:

Samantha Montano (Lewisville ISD)

Jackie Hannebaum (Corpus Christi)

Samantha and Jackie will each receive a $150 Visa gift card!

And one local unit has won the drawing for turning in both their officer and campus rep list by June 1! Thank you to all the local units who worked hard to get their lists in by the deadline.

We congratulate Jasper ATPE (Region 5) for winning!

Jasper ATPE will be awarded $500!

]]>Mon, 06 Jul 2015 14:13:48 GMTcf2bb286-16f0-4e50-9e21-55d9a36dd265

The start of the 2015 ATPE Summit is less than a week away! Summit attendees will elect state officers, debate amendments to ATPE’s bylaws, and set the course for the year ahead. If you’re attending summit this year, take the time now to familiarize yourself with the state officer candidates (click on each candidate’s name to see his or her campaign video) and the HOD business that will be voted on at summit.

In addition to the annual House of Delegates meeting, leader training, and our awards banquet, we have some very exciting events planned this year:

Our closing session will feature The Water Coolers, known for their hilarious workplace sketch comedy.

We will be hosting a glow-in-the-dark dance party and our first-ever epic lip-sync battle! Austin's #1 wedding band, The Pictures, will help us dance 'til we drop!

]]>Thu, 02 Jul 2015 16:23:34 GMT6b1c2602-26d6-4507-8f41-dd77a0f87521

The Hill Country is no longer just a quiet weekend getaway for families on vacation. It is quickly becoming a permanent destination for those wanting to live in the beauty of this area. From the rolling hills, to the cliffs along Lake Travis, to the endless spring wildflowers, the list of what makes this area so picturesque goes on and on. There are many other reasons people are drawn to this area, including unlimited outdoor adventures, the music and art scenes, a booming downtown economy, world-class education, wanting to keep Austin weird, and so much more.

Some of my personal favorite outdoor destinations in the Hill Country include the Highland Lakes, Pedernales Falls, Hamilton Pool, Reimers Ranch, McKinney Falls, and at the top of my list just might be Enchanted Rock. When I think about my favorite campgrounds, I would certainly list Garner State Park and Lost Maples. These are places of such natural beauty, and they are close enough to Austin for a weekend getaway. But you will want to reserve campgrounds way in advance because the secret has been out for a while about these Hill Country gems. I also want to mention that Austin’s new downtown boardwalk that weaves its way down Lady Bird Lake and connects to our very popular running trail.

Traveling a bit further south toward San Antonio opens up many more activities to enjoy, such as exploring the famous San Antonio River Walk, riding roller coasters at Six Flags, getting close to marine life at SeaWorld, and taking in a basketball game to cheer on the San Antonio Spurs. Don’t forget Schlitterbahn Waterpark—the best place to soak up those sunny days of summer! (And ATPE members get discounts, of course!) Those who enjoy beautiful rivers can camp, fish, and tube in many areas in Regions 13 and 20.

Here are some of my other favorite places and things about Austin and San Antonio.

*Live Music Capital of the World—Austin hosts the annual Austin City Limits (ACL) music festival that attracts music lovers from all over the world! Austin is home to thousands of musicians dreaming of playing in the hundreds of live music venues that Austin has to offer. The selection for entertainment in the Austin area is ever-growing. Whether you are into live music, movies, theater, or art, you will not be disappointed by your choices. One of my favorite live music spots is Cedar Street Courtyard. It is a cozy place to meet up with friends and dance the night away!

*Fascinating structures—Did you know that the Texas State Capitol building is the biggest state capitol? The only capitol with more square footage is the US Capitol in DC. The skyline of Austin has also been rapidly developing. I have taken a private tour through some of Austin’s most impressive buildings, such as The Austonian, a residential skyscraper that reaches 683 feet. It is the tallest structure in Austin and has impressive 360-degree views of the city. I have also been in the private dining room basement of a restaurant called La Condesa. The basement dining room used to be a storage area for flour and dry goods back in the old days of Austin. The basement connected to a tunnel under 2nd Street where flour and dry goods were transported to a general store at the location of current-day Lamberts restaurant. I have to mention the Pennybacker Bridge, which was completed back in 1982. Most Austinites refer to this bridge as the 360 Bridge simply because it allows Highway 360 to cross Lake Austin. It was and still is an impressive and beautifully designed bridge.

In San Antonio, you will want to visit the Tower of the Americas. It is located downtown and reaches 750 feet. It offers amazing views and even has a restaurant at the top!

I could go on and on about unique structures, probably because I am married to a structural engineer, but I will end with mentioning Graffiti Park in Austin. This isn’t an actual park; it is a group of concrete walls that are frequently painted on by local artists. This is a popular place to express creative skills or take photographs. Graffiti Park is located downtown near Lamar and 11th Street. It is just one of the many places around town to see the work of local artists.

*Largest bat population in an urban area—About 1.5 million bats call the Congress Avenue Bridge their home between March to November. There are often crowds of people gathered on the bridge to witness the bats eating thousands of pounds of insects along Lady Bird Lake every night.

*Circuit of the Americas—Formula One races began in Austin in 2012 and are scheduled to continue until 2022. There is also an amphitheater that has hosted dozens of famous musicians/bands! This venue also hosts the X Games and the MotoGP.

*Celebrity sightings…and some not quite as famous—Some of the famous celebrities in the area include Willie Nelson, Sandra Bullock (who has a restaurant downtown, Bess Bistro), Matthew McConaughey (I met his mom one time and got her to sign a book she had written), and Rene’e Zellweger. Other lesser-known celebrities include that hot guy from The Bachelor, Brad Womack (who I’ve encountered before). He has owned a handful of businesses in Austin.

*World-class education—I believe everything we do in life and every path we travel has something to do with education. Our public schools are very diverse. Children from all over the world attend schools in the Central Texas area. Our hard-working ATPE teachers keep the children challenged on a daily basis. I must admit that even though I am an Aggie, I do believe the University of Texas is a remarkable school (if you like orange and longhorns). Other impressive colleges/universities in the Central Texas area are Concordia, St. Edwards, Huston Tillotson, Austin Community College, Texas State (Go Bobcats—I received my master’s degree here!), Southwestern, University of Texas San Antonio, University of the Incarnate Word, Schreiner, St. Mary’s, Trinity, and Our Lady of the Lake, as well as others. No matter what age, we have an education system for you! Whether you are looking to complete a degree, learn a new skill, or simply stay informed, you will find everything your mind desires in Regions 13 and 20. So get out there and discover all that this amazing part of our state has to offer!

*Festivals/events—It seems like there is something fun to do every weekend! Austin has numerous festivals going on all over the city, many of which are kid and pet friendly. We are lucky to have some incredible parks, such as Zilker Park, which accommodate festivals such as ACL, SXSW, and more. Some of my favorite local festivals are the kite festival, the ice cream festival, and the Old Pecan Street Festival. The festivals are filled with tasty goodness, fun activities, and art by local artists. The San Antonio area holds popular events such as Luminaria, Fiesta, and the popular Wurstfest.

Discover the Hill Country, but if you don’t already live here, then please just visit us. Our special place is getting too crowded! However, even though our population is exploding, you are sure to run into familiar faces at the local hangouts. Austin is a good blend of city and country living. The people are friendly and sometimes a bit weird, but you have to love them all the same. You will often find t-shirts that say “Keep Austin Weird” or “Welcome to Austin”…. But please don’t move here. Visit anytime!